THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


LAVA   FIRES. 


BY 

ABRAM  LENT  SMITH. 

AUTHOR  OF  "A  ROMAUNT  OF  LADY  HELEN  CLYDE,"  ETC. 


"  May  we  but  stand  before  impartial  men." 

JOHN  BUNYAN. 

"  Here's  a  truth  that  will  endure, 
'  To  the  pure,  all  things  are  pure.' 
Listen,  reader,  to  these  words  ;  they  are  Divine  ! 
If  my  pictures  are  well  done, 
Blame  me  not,  O  gentle  one ; 
I  have  merely  painted  natures,  yours  and  mine  !" 

AUTHOR. 


NEW     YORK: 

COPYRIGHT,  1888,  BT 

G.    IV.    DiZlingham,    Publisher, 

SUCCESSOR  TO  G.  W.  CARLETON  &  Co. 

MDCCCLXXXVIIl. 


TROWS 

NO  AND  BOOKBINDING  COMPANY, 
HEW  YORK. 


PS 
"? 
JL 


THIS    BOOK    IS    HUMBLY    AND    RESPECTFULLY 

DEDICATED 

TO  THAT   HOABY-nEADED  POTENTATE 

TIME, 
BY  UIS  PllODIGAL  PROTEGJ: 

TIIE  AUTHOR. 


7G2991 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

My  Galatea ! 5 

0,  Love's  Lilies ! 11 

Rose  of  Roses 13 

The  New  Hesperides 15 

The  Lark  Sang  all  too  Soon ! 17 

She  Came  in  the  Swoon  of  a  Dying  June 18 

The  Land  of  Loves 20 

My  Love 26 

Under  the  Rose. .  27 

« 

Sweet  Mistress  Dorothy 29 

At  Sea 31 

Twilight  of  the  Gods 33 

Reverie 34 

Hark  1  My  Soul 36 

Close  to  the  Breast  of  a  Leaf -Laden  Tree 38 

Wonder  if  I  Dare  ? 40 

[Hi] 


iv  Contents. 

Page 

Lull  me  to  Dreams 41 

Then  Worship  I  my  Love ! 42 

A  Maiden  Fair 44 

Love  Slain 45 

She  Sleeps  the  Sleep  of  Death 47 

0  1  I  Buikled  a  Nest 49 

A  Memory 51 

The  Laddie  and  Lassie  sac  True 53 

Gladys 55 

1  Once  Knew  a  Love 57 

Gone 58 

Those  Harps  of  Gold 59 

Farewell CO 

"  Our  Little  Life  is  Rounded  with  a  Sleep  " 61 

Course  of  Life 63 

Kara  Aly 98 


LAVA  FIRES, 


MY   GALATEA! 

"  My  bounty  is  as  boundless  as  the  sea, 
My  love  as  deep ;  the  more  I  give  to  thee, 
The  more  I  have,  for  both  are  infinite." 

Shakespeare. 

1. 

LADY,  hast  thou  no  love  for  me  ? 

Does  not  thy  youthful  blood, 

Rich  with  the  rosy  measure  of  glad  thoughts, 

Course  through  its  ways  with  passionate  surge, 

In  answer  to  my  lay  ? 

[v] 


6  My  Galatea  ! 

2. 

Or  is  thy  heart, 

Like  some  dried  mummy,  wrapt 

In  cerements  of  white, 

Sad  with  the  memories  of  frankincense  and  myrrh  ; 

Thy  pulses  chilled  with  death  in  life  ; 

With  blood  all  hueless, 

And  pallid  as  the  lily  of  thy  brow  ? 

3. 

Or,  is  it  that  within  those  breasts, 

Those  hills  rose-tipped,  and  redolent 

Of  maidenly  reserve, 

Within  whose  vale  nestles  a  spray  of  jessamine, 

And  pansies  wakened  by  the  dews  of  morn, 

Rages  a  heat  that's  held  in  thrall 

As  J3tna  holds  in  leash 

Cyclopean  fires ! 

4. 

By  all  the  gods,  I  swear, 

It  must  be  so. — Or  nature  lies  ! 

For  how  could  seeming  such  as  thine 

Enshrine  within  its  graciousness 

Thoughts  so  ungentle 

As  shrined  nuns,  within  their  cloistered  cells, 


My  Galatea  / 

Dissembling  to  themselves, 

An  arid  victory  seek  in  their  possession. 


5. 


But  Nature  to  herself  is  true  ! 

And  when  in  her  creations 

She  designs 

A  brow  such  as  the  Serpent  of  Old  Nile 

Unveiled  to  Antony  ; 

Or  form,  the  cincture  of  whose  purple  robes 

The  proud  Semiramis  unclasped 

To  loves'  mad  plea  ; 


6. 


Or  eyes  of  sloe, 

Like-  those  with  which  the  queen  Erigone, 

With  wanton  coquetry,  enslaved  the  hearts  of  men  ; 

Or  neck  soft  as  the  ring-dove's  throat, 

Gurgling  with  notes  of  tender  melody  ; 

Or  tresses  black  as  midnight's  wing, 

Such  as  the  wild  Bacchantes  wreathed 

In  honor  of  their  God  ; 

Or  feet  such  as  Diana's  sandals  kissed  ; 

Or  arms  like  those  with  which  the  amorous  Venus 

Restrained  the  boy  Adonis  from  the  chase ! 


8  My  Galatea  / 

7. 

'Tis  then  she  crowns  tho  work 

With  heart  of  fire, 

And  blood  that  leaps  at  love's  fond  cry, 

And  life  that  thrills  with  passion's  scarlet  monody, 

And  mouth  whose  seal  of  chastity  awaits 

The  pressure  only,  of  the  Prince's  kiss. 

8. 

And  thus  I  know  thee  ! 

And  I  would  shake  the  battlements  to  their 

foundations 

Of  storied  castle,  or  donjon  keep, 
With  armories  of  song, 

To  pass  the  drawbridge,  whose  portcullis  bars 
My  bravest  onset. 

9. 

Lady,  my  love  for  thee 

Is  such  as  shall  endure  full  many  a  tilt, 

'Til  I  have  battered  down  the  gates  of  gold 

And  entered  in. 

For  I,  a  Prince,  have  come  far  o'er  the  main 

To  break  the  charm  that  on  thee  lies, 

And  carry  thee  across  the  seas  ! 

My  galleys  lie  anear, 


My  Galatea  / 

Rich-laden  with  a  costly  freight, 
To  do  thee  service. 

10. 

Within  their  holds  lie  gems  of  thought/ 
And  golden  goblets  plasht  with  life's  red  wine  ; 
And  silver  urns  enwrought  with  minstrelsy  ; 
And  porphery  inscribed  with  runes  ; 
And  kingly  seals, 


11. 


With  borderings  of  rubies,  amethyst  and  sard  ; 

And  gleaming  emerald  caskets, 

Filled  with  many  a  precious  parchment  roll ; 

And  robes  of  state  heraldic, 

All  broidcrcd  o'er  with  turquois,  sapphire  and 

seed-pearls  ; 

And  wealth  of  Ind,  digged 
From  her  secret  mines. 


12. 


All  these  I  bring  to  thee  ! 

And  I  would  feed  thy  soul 

With  red  pomegranates,  ripened  where  I  sang 


io  My  Galatea  ! 

Iu  lands  afar ; 

And  I  would  pour  libations  rich 
Of  poesy  about  thy  feet, 
My  Gahtoa  ! 


O,  Loves  .Lilies  !  1 1 


O,  LOVE'S  LILIES  ! 


I  quaffed  a  cup  of  lethean  rest — 

Of  languorous  rest — 
As  ray  head  sank  low  on  my  white  love's  breast — 

My  love's  white  breast ; 
And  my  soul  was  bathed  in  her  odorous  hair, 
As  lissome  she  lay,  and  debonnaire, 
A  thornless  rose  from  a  garden  fair. 

0,  love's  lilies  ! 


ii. 


The  spent  years  seemed  as  a  twilight  tale — 

As  a  shepherd's  tale, 
In  the  low  chanson  of  the  nightingale — 

Sweet  nightingale, 

As  our  lives  blent  in  the  perfect  rhyme — 
The  old,  old  dream  of  joy  sublime, 
When  love  comes  back  from  the  old,  old  time,, 

0,  love's  lilies  ! 


12  O,  Loves  Lilies  ! 

in. 

Aud  the  planets  of  night  in  a  tangled  maze — 

In  a  luminous  maze, 
As  a  dream,  white-litten,  with  shadowy  rays— 

With  opaline  rays, 

Illumined  with  their  glory  her  radiant  face, 
And  her  fair  sad  limbs  in  their  matchless  grace, 
Whore  Love  had  wrought  him  a  dwelling  place. 

Oh,  love's  lilies  ! 


Rose  of  Roses.  13 


ROSE  OF  ROSES. 

Come  and  sit  beside  me,  darling, 

Ere  I  go  ; 
Fling  the  sunshine  of  thy  presence 

On  my  woe  — 
I  must  leave  thee,  rose  of  roses, 

For  a  while  ; 
Challenge,  dear,  the  clouds  about  me 

With  thy  smile  ; 
Draw  a  little  closer,  darling  — 

Closer  yet  ; 
Pillow  here  upon  my  bosom, 

Oh  !  my  pet  ; 
Look  up  in  my  face,  my  sweetest, 

With  those  eyes  ; 
Nothing  on  this  earth  conies  nearer 

Paradise  ! 
Nestle  closer,  0  !  my  precious, 

To  my  heart  ; 
Pledge  me  with  thy  burning  kisses 


0  !  thy  breast  is  soft  as  satin, 
White  as  pnow  ! 


14  Rose  of  Rose;. 

0  !  my  dear,  I  cannot  leave  thee, 

Will  not  go. 
Ah  !  the  gods  have  lent  thee  beauty 

Most  divine — 
Aphrodite  was  less  lovely, 

Maiden  mine  ! 

1  am  drunk  with  thy  caresses, 

0  !  my  clove  ! 

Life  was  only  made  for  loving  ! 
Let  us  love  ! 


The  New  Hesperides.  15 


THE  NEW  HESPERIDES. 


i. 


Ever  placid  are  the  seas 

Where  the  new  Hesperides 
Eise  like  nymphs  in  all  their  natal  charms  confest. 

0  !  the  valley  of  Cashmere 

To  my  soul  is  not  so  dear, 
Nor  the  fragrant  groves  of  Araby  the  blest  ! 

II. 

Free  their  scented  fountains  play 

All  the  night  and  all  the  day, 
And  their  rivers  over  sands  of  silver  run, 

And  the  fig  and  orange  trees 

Waft  their  perfumes  on  the  breeze 
In  the  land  where  dwell  the  children  of  tho  Sun. 

in. 

Ah  !  the  nightingale's  soft  trill 
Every  lover's  heart  doth  fill, 
When  the  landscape  swoons  upon  the  breast  of  night, 


1 6  The  New  Hcsperides. 

And  the  cypress  and  the  palm 
Stand  like  gianfs,  proud  and  calm, 
Waiting  for  the  stars  to  crown  their  locks  with  light. 

IV. 

When  the  night  to  midnight  wanes, 

And  the  rout  of  wassail  reigns, 
Then,  coy  beauties,  list  to  love's  endearing  sighs, 

And  their  dress  of  lilmy  lace 

In  each  curve  hetrays  the  grace 
Of  the  houris  of  this  earthly  paradise. 

v. 

Happier  than  a  king  or  khan, 

Lounging  on  a  rich  divan, 
Where  the  air  is  fed  with  musk  from  many  a  rose, 

There  I  quaff  from  massy  gold 

Draughts  of  red  wine,  rare  and  old, 
In  this  oriental  haven  of  repose. 


The  Lark  Sang  all  too  Soon. 


THE  LARK  SANG  ALL  TOO  SOON ! 


i. 

The  palm  trees  were  fair  in  the  moon, 
And  the  lizards  were  lapt  in  sleep, 

And  the  nightingales  song  waxed  clear  and  strong 
Near  the  ivied  donjon  keep  ! 

ir. 

And  the  castle  turrets  were  high, 

And  its  bannerets  hung  on  the  air  ; 

And  the  knight  was  mad  niith  a  glad  desire, 
And  the  lady  was  passing  fair  ! 

in. 

And  love  led  the  silent  hours 

To  the  croon  of  the  old  new  time  ; 

But  the  nightingales  song  waned  faint  ere  long, 
And  the  lark  sang  all  too  soon  ! 


1 8  She  came  in  the  Swoon  of  a  Dying  June. 


SUE    CAME    IN    THE  SWOON   OF  A   DYING 
JUNE. 


i. 


She  came  in  the  swoon  of  a  dying  June, 

I  know  that  she  came  in  June, 
For  the  gardens  were  rich  with  the  regal  scent 
Of  the  lush  red  roses  well-nigh  spent, 
And  the  crickets  were  crooning  a  low  lament 
In  the  arbors  where  roses  lie — 
In  the  arbors  where  lovers  sigh. 


ii. 


She  came,  with  warm  airs,  from  the  tropical  South, 

I  know  that  she  came  from  the  South, 
With  naked  white  feet,  and  arms  and  neck  bare, 
And  a  spray  of  white  jasmine  adream  in  her  hair, 
And  'round  her  was  clinging  a  perfume  most  rare, 
From  the  valleys  where  bulbuls  sing — 
From  the  valleys  where  lovers  cling  ! 


She  came  in  the  Swoon  of  a  Dying  June.    \  9 

in. 

She  came  in  the  noon  of  a  Summer  night — 

I  know  that  she  came  in  the  night, 
For  the  wan  lips  of  Luna  were  kist  by  the  sea, 
And  the  song  of  the  stars  was  adrift  on  the  lea, 
And  the  love-moths  were  trolling  a  faint  minstrelsy 
O'er  the  couches  where  red  moths  gleam — 
O'er  the  couches  where  lovers  dream  ! 


2o  The  Land  of  Loves. 


TIIE   LAND  OF  LOVES. 


1. 


Strange  memories  awake, 
And  glide  at  will  across  the  sward  of  thought, 
When  I  recall  the  days  wherein  I  followed,  rapt, 

An  alien  mad  star  ! 


2. 


For  one  was  a  land  of  suns, 

That  hung  at  dazzling  noons 

In  skies  sere  gray, 
And  glittered  o'er  a  vast  expanse 

Of  desert  waste, 
Where,  far  as  vision  fell,  no  friendly  shade, 

With  smiling  verdancy, 

Nor  jocund  stream,  with  laughing  leap, 

Relieved  the  aching  eye,  or  listless  car 
Of  him  who  dared  these  trackless  plains  to  cr..s£ 


The  Land  of  Loves.  21 

3. 

And  yet  to  him, 
Whose  courage  high  these  lifeless  drifts  of  yellow  sand 

Endured  unto  the  end, 
There  came  a  time,  when,  at  their  farthest  verge, 

Beyond  their  dunes, 
He  found  a  sudden  solace  of  sweet  rest, 
Such  as  the  Moslem  hopes  to  find 

In  Paradise  ! 


For  here  were  cooling  waters, 

That,  gushing,  ran  in  never-ceasing  rills  ; 

And  green  recesses, 

Where  mute  gazelles  with  timid  eyes  looked  up, 
And  birds  of  myriad  dyes  made  glad  the  scene  ; 
And  dark-browed  maids,  with  dusky  limbs, 
v  Their  earthen  pitchers  filled 
Within  the  shadow  of  the  stately  palm. 


5. 


And  one  was  a  land  of  stars, 
Forever  clad  in  draperies  of  snow, 
Where  palaces  of  frosty  fretwork  reared 
Their  lofty  minarets, 


22  The  Land  of  Loves. 

And  ancient  Night,  swart  sentinel  of  Time, 
'  Forever  brooded  o'er  the  scene  ! 

6. 

And  here  the  reindeer  cropped 
The  scanty  herbnge  of  the  drear  expanse  ! 
And  flocks  of  wild  geese,  flying  high, 
Assailed  the  ear  of  Night  with  clamor  wild  ; 
And,  issuing  from  his  sheltered  hut, 
The  fur-clad  denizen  of  this  cold  clime 
Bestirred  his  sluggish  blood 
In  ardent  quest  of  seal  and  polar  bear. 

7. 

And,  when  successful  in  his  search,  he  brought 

Unto  his  lowly  home  the  trophies  of  the  cliase, 
He  found  a  welcome  warm  and  goodly  cheer, 
That  gave  him  happy  dreams  in  sleep 

Of  bouts  in  wide  Valhalla's  halls, 

Where  Odin  sits 
Supreme  among  the  gods  ; 
And,  mayhap,  stirring  in  his  slumber  deep, 
He  heard  the  hammer  of  the  thunder-god 
Striking  wild  echoes  from  the  mountain  sides 

In  sweep  of  avalanche, 
Or  Skaldic  sages  in  the  runic  wind 


The  Land  of  Loves.  23 

That  hoarsely  sang  amid  the  branches  bare 
Of  lonely  pines ! 

8. 

And  one  was  a  land  of  moons, 

Where  horned  censers  swung  within  the  sky, 

Mingling  a  mystic  element  within 

The  horoscopes 
Grey-bearded  sages  drew. 
And  from  the  eyes  of  dwellers  in  this  land 
Looked  out  the  old,  dead  past — 
A  cycle  of  gone  centuries, 
In  which  the  children  of  the  gods 
Built  pyramids  herculean, 
That,  hoary  with  old  memories,  yet  withstand 

The  confluent  waves  of  time  ! 

9. 

Here  I  beheld  the  solemn  Sphynx 

That  fronts  the  yellow  Nile, 

And,  standing  in  its  shadow,  saw 

The  shepherd' kings,  begirt  with  leopards'  skins, 

Again  hold  council  in  their  tents  ; 

And  Thebes,  the  hundred-gated  city,  rise 

To  Amphion's  charmed  lute  ; 

And  Israel's  great  leader  stand 


24  The  Land  of  Loves. 

Within  grim  Pharaoh's  court  ; 

And  Memphiau  heroes,  in  war  chariots,  lash 

Their  fiery  steeds  to  battle. 


10. 


And  suddenly  a  thrill  of  laughter  low, 
Like  the  faint  music  of  a  far  cascade, 

Rippled  upon  mine  ear  ; 
And  as  it  grew  in  volume  rare  and  sweet, 
It  seemed  the  melody  of  larks  at  dawn  ! 
And  lo  !  a  bevy  of  Egyptian  maids, 
Laughing  and  sporting  as  they  pass, 
The  balmy  heralds  of  a  gracious  queen, 
Who  to  her  bath  steps  down, 

Naked  as  Niobe, 

Peerless  as  when  the  Nubian  slave 
Un draped  her  blandishments 

To  mighty  Caesar  ! 

11. 

And  thus  my  reverie  limned 

A  phantom  wraith  of  pictures, 

That  faded  soon  and  fell  away 

As  leaves  that  fall  in  silent  harmonics  ! 


The  Land  of  Loves.  25 

12. 

But  last  I  came  into  a  land  of  loves — 

A  land  whereof  I  dreamed,  where'er  I  roamed — 

A  land  wherein  my  fond  imaginings 

Found  fair  fruition  ! 

0,  lady  mine,  if  summer  suns  give  life  to  love 
Or  midnight  stars  link  destinies, 
Or  crescent  moons  for  lovers  fond  shine  out, 
Then  does  the  radiant  orb  of  heaven  crown 
Thy  brow,  which  feels  the  fervor  of  my  kiss  ; 

And  throbbing  stars 

Eejoice  to  hear  the  mingling  of  our  vows; 
And  happy  moons  reel  with  delight 

As  our  souls  meet  ! 


26  My   Love. 


MY  LOVE. 


i. 

Thy  face  is  a  moon  in  a  starless  gloom, 

Ah,  Sweet! 

Thy  breath  is  the  death  of  the  clover's  perfume, 
Thine  eyes  sad  as  violets  plucked  from  a  tomb, 
Thy  form,  like  the  white  calla-lilys'  in  bloom, 

Ah,  Sweet ! 

ii. 

Thy  love  is  a  theme  for  the  tenderest  lyre, 

Ah,  Sweet  ! 

Thou  art  to  my  heart  the  ripe  bud  of  desire, 
Unmatched  by  the  matchless  in  Heaven's   own 
choir, 

God  knows  were  I  ice,  I  would  melt  with  your  fire, 
My  Sweet ! 


Under   the  Rose.  27 


UNDER  THE  ROSE. 


i. 

Hasten  my  darling, 

There's  love  in  the  air ; 
Hasten,  my  precious, 

My  warm  heart  to  share  ; 
0  !  where  the  moon-burnished  rivulet  flows  ;- 
Come  with  thy  wondrous  face, 
Come  with  thy  matchless  grace, 
Come  to  our  trysting  place, 
Under  the  rose  ! 

Under  the  rose,  darling, 
Under  the  rose  ; 

Come  to  our  trysting  place, 
Under  the  rose  ! 

II 

Hasten,  my  darling, 

The  hours  are  fleet ; 
Hark  !  now  I  hear  the  soft 

Tread  of  thy  feet*! 


28  Under  the   Rose. 

0  !  how  my  being  with  ecstasy  glows  ! 
Into  my  arms  love, 
There's  nought  to  fear,  love, 
Life's  full  of  cheer,  love, 

Under  the  rose  I 


Sweet  Mistress  Dorothy.  29 


SWEET  MISTRESS   DOROTHY. 

i. 

Sweet  Mistress  Dorothy, 
Come,  come  away  with  me, 

Over  the  sea; 

Long  have  I  loved  thee  well, 
More  than  my  soul  can  tell, 
Come  to  my  castle,  love — 

Queen  you  shall  be  ! 

n. 

Dost  know  my  bride  of  brides, 
Where  thy  fond  love  abides, 

Soft !  I  will  tell ; 
Where  skies  are  ever  blue, 
And  hearts  are  ever  true, 
Far  in  a  realm  of  bliss, 

Under  Loves'  spell ! 

in. 

Thither,  my  dark-eyed  pet, 

Where  Romance  lingers  yet, 

Far  o'er  the  foam  ; 


30  Sweet  Mistress   Dorothy. 

Where  silver  olives  blow, 
Where  fairest  flowers  grow, 
And  the  sweet  grilli  sings, 
There  is  my  home  ! 


At  Sea.  31 


AT  SEA. 


Freely  our  pennant  flies  ; 

Flaunting  the  gale, 
Under  weird  midnight's  skies, 

Spectral  and  pale  ! 
Hark  !  how  the  cordage  creaks, 
Answering  the  ghostly  shrieks 
Of  the  mad  wind  that  seeks 

Death's  pallid  trail  ! 


Fearless  our  gallant  bark, 

Breasting  the  waves, 
Glides  like  a  phantom  stark 

O'er  haunted  graves  ; 
Black  yawns  the  dangerous  straits, 
Like  Hell's  colossal  gates, 
Opening  to  where  the  Fates 

Leer  from  their  caves. 


32  At  Sea. 

in. 

'  Cliffs  lashed  by  crested  foam, 

Else  either  side, 
Where  even  ghoul  or  gnome 

Fears  to  abide. 
High  soars  the  Albatross, 
Skirting  the  Southern  Cross, 
Lonely  as  we  who  toss 
On  desperate  tide  I 


Twilight  of  the    Gods.  33 


TWILIGHT   OF   THE   GODS. 

i. 

Apollo,  with  his  fiery  steeds, 

Has  passed  addwn  the  golden  West ; 

But  still  their  pathway  burns  along  the  hills  ; 

Now  reigns  the  peerless  twilight  of  the  Gods — 

My  spirit  thrills  ! 

O'er  land  and  sea  the  shadows  slowly  creep, 
And  in  their  far-off  realm  of  azure  deep 

The  stars  play  hide  aud  peep, 
Like  winking  baby-eyes,  that  blink  with  sleep. 

n. 

Fair  Dian  in  her  silver  car, 

Eides  up  the  turquois-color'd  sky, 

And  earthward  showers  chaste  pledges  of  her  bliss  ; 

Endymion  sleeps  !     Upon  his  ruddy  lips 

She  prints  a  kiss — 

A  burning  kiss,  that  wakes  his  slumber  sound  ! 
0  !  where  can  lovelier  nights  than  this  be  found 

The  wide  world  round  ? 
Hesperian  nights  alone  are  magic-crowned  ! 


34  Reverie. 


KEVERIE. 


i. 

I  stood  in  the  land  of  Petrarch, 
When  day  her  banner  furled  ; 

And  watched  the  Twilight  cross  the  sky, 
With  sandals  dcw-impearled  ; 

And  spread  her  veil  of  iris  tints, 
Athwart  a  tired  world. 

ii. 

Then  ancient  night,  swung  a  golden  moon 
Like  a  lamp,  in  the  silver  deep  ; 

And  waved  her  wand,  and  a  host  of  stars 
Opened  their  eyes  from  sleep  ; 

And  the  molten  silver  Arno  flowed, 
Like  a  dream  by  the  Olive  steep  ! 

in. 

The  semi-opened,  blushing  cups, 
Of  the  Oleanders  red  ; 


Reverie.  35 

And  the  odorous  white  magnolia  globes, 

Their  balmy  perfume  spread  ; 
'Til  tlr5  spices  of  Asia  were  in  the  air 

And  care  was  a  memory  dead. 

IV. 

My  soul  drank  deep  at  this  banquet  feast, 

'Mid  beauties  of  rarest  worth ; 
And  seemed  to  scent  the  balmy  fields 

Of  the  land  of  its  pristine  birth  ; 
The  earth  seemed  very  far  from  Heaven, 

But  Heaven  seemed  close  to  earth  I 


36  Hark  /  My  Soul. 


HARK  !  MY  SOUL. 


i. 


Hark  !  my  soul,  what  notes  uprising, 
Break  the  pensive  drowse  of  night, 

Cloistered  harmonies  surprising 

Waking  dreams  of  dead  delight. 


ii. 


In  the  dear  old  hours,  vanished, 

Strains  like  these  my  senses  fed  ; 

Hours  when  blighting  care  was  banished, 
Days  when  youth  and  hope  were  wed. 


in. 


Golden  hours  now  past  forever, 

Days  of  joy  unflecked  with  strife, 

All  are  gone — nor  fairer,  ever, 

Floated  from  the  harp  of  life. 


Hark  /  My  Soul.  37 

IV. 

Soft !  sweet  memory's  chimes  are  ringing, 

And  their  mellow  music  brings 
Harp  swept  trebles,  far  off  singing, 

And  the  rustling,  soft,  of  wings. 

v. 

Friendly  shadows  float  around  me, 

(Loves  that  Paradise  adorn,) — 
Lute-like  voices  that  have  bound  me, 

From  the  spirit-realm  are  borne. 

VI. 

Hark  !  again  these  strains  come  trooping, 

Phalanx  after  phalanx  deep  ; 
And  my  spirit,  spent  and  drooping, 

\Wakes,  ah,  God  !  alone  to  weep. 


38  Close  to  the  Breast  of  a  Leaf -Laden  Tree. 


CLOSE  TO  THE  BREAST  OF  A  LEAF-LADES 
TREE. 


i. 

Close  to  the  breast  of  a  leaf-laden  tree 

Sang  a  bird  all  atremble  with  woe  ; 
And  he  sang  out  his  heart,  as  blood  that  runs  free 

From  the  side  of  a  wounded  doe  : 
For  his  cry  was  a  call  to  his  wandering  mate, 

Whose  coming  he  heard  not,  aweary  with  wait, 
By  the  lone  nest  they  builded,  with  young  love  elate, 
In  day-tide  and  afterglow  ! 

ii. 

Sweet  by  my  side,  in  her  puritan  grace, 

Walked  the  maid  who  had  gathered  my  love, 

As  a  new  sun  foregathers  new  planets  in  space 
From  the  nebulous  star-dust  above  ! 

Who  drew  me  as  sea  waves  are  drawn  by  the  moon, 
By  a  form  as  patrician  us  lilies  in  June, 

By  a  soul  set  to  harmonies  rare  as  a  rune 

That  sanctifies  perfect  love  ! 


Close  to  the  Breast  of  a  Leaf -Laden  Tree.  39 

in. 

Peace,  from  her  eyes  'ncath  their  dark  fringed  lids, 

Threw  a  glance  that  was  seemly  and  kind, 
.As  I  asked  for  the  guerdon  that  young  Cupid  bids 

Souls  enamored  regret  not  to  find  ! 
And  I  felt,  as  her  kiss  sealed  forever  our  troth, 

That  the  star  thro'  the  ether  had   leaned  to    the 

moth, 

And  the  new  wine  of  love-life  had  sparkled  to  froth 
As  free  as  the  fetterless  wind  ! 

IV. 

As  a  sunbeam  darts  thro'  the  lifting  rain, 

Down  the  night-light,  rapid  and  still, 
Came  the  vagrant,  whose  love-mate,   with  welcoming 

strain, 

Filled  our  hearts  with  an  answering  thrill  ; 
And  his  song,  as  it  welled  from  the  nest  in  the  tree, 

Seemed  freighted  with  promise  of  joyance  to  be, 
With  the  largess  of  wonder  that  fell  on  the  sea 

When  Venus  rose  naked  and  chill ! 


4O  Wonder  if  I  Dare 


WONDER  IF  I  DARE  ? 


i. 

On  a  silk  embroidered  couch 

Lies  my  lady  fair, 
0,  her  dainty  rose-bud  lips 

Thrill  me  to  my  finger  tips  ! 
Guess  there's  mischief  in  the  air — 

Wonder  if  I  dare  ? 

ii. 

Matchless  is  her  fairy  form  ! 

See  !  she  sleeps  in  bliss. 
Tho*  her  anger  I  shall  share, 

If  I  kiss  her  unaware, 
Yet  I've  not  the  strength  to  miss 

Such  a  stolen  kiss ! 


Lull  me  to  Dreams.  41 


LULL  ME   TO   DKEAMS. 


i. 

Sing  me  a  song,  darling, 

Witchingly  sweet, 
While  I  recline,  darling, 

Here  at  thy  feet ; 

Softer  thy  voice  than  the  murmuring  streams. 
Oh,  touch  the  lute-,  love  ! 
My  soul  is  mute,  love — 
Lull  me  to  dreams  ! 

ii. 

Ah,  yes,  thy  voice,  darling, 

Outvies  the  spheres  ; 
Taught  me  thou  hast,  dear, 

The  value  gf  tears  ; 

Gentle  art  thou  as  the  moon's  silver  beams. 
Oh,  raise  the  song,  love  ! 
Let  it  be  long,  love — 
Lull  me  to  dreams. 


42  Then   Worship  I  my  Love. 


THEN   WORSHIP  I  MY  LOVE! 


i. 


When  habited  in  sable  black, 
With  bodice  deftly  moulded  to  her  form, 
And  trailing  skirts  that  flutter  in  the  wind ; 
And  beaver  hat,  and  gloves,  and  jewelled  whip 
Complete  her  font  ensemble  ; 
And  poised  with  airy  grace  upon  her  steed, 
She  rides  a  fair  Diana  of  the  chase — 
x    Then  I  admire  my  love  ! 


ii. 


When  garmented  in  satin  robe, 

With  draperies  rippling  in  rich  folds  behind, 

And  corsage  laced  above  a  chemisette  of  point ; 

Her  snowy  neck  and  arms  revealed — 

(A  legacy  of  Madame  Pompadour)  ; 

Her  wrists  and  ears  begemmed  with  diamonds  rare  ; 

And,  swaying  to  the  waltz's  rhythmic  swell, 


Then    Worship  I  my  Love.  43 

She  shows  'neath  petticoats  of  filmy  tulle 
A  roguish  ankle, 

Clad  fittingly  in  hose  of  'broidered  silk — 
Then  do  I  love  my  love  ! 

in. 

When  robed  in  bathing  suit  of  amber  silk, 
That  closely  hugs  her  moon-fed  lissome  form  ; 
Her  golden  hair  unleashed  from  Grecian  coil, 
And  rioting  in  perfumed  opulence 
Adown  her  lily  neck  ; 
Her  white  feet  naked  to  the  moon  and  me, 
Her  fair  arms  luring  in  their  loveliness, 
Ami,  like  a  Nereid  in  the  amorous  surf 
She  flashes  from  her  eyes  night  and  the  stars — 
Then  worship  I  my  love  ! 


44  A  Maiden  Fair. 


A  MAIDEN  FAIK. 


i. 

A  maiden  fair,  beyond  compare, 
Once  laughing  sadly  said  : 

0  !  love,  to-duy  we  will  be  gay, 
For  to-morrow  may  find  us  dead  ! 

ii. 

Thro7  copse  and  brake,  to  silver  lake, 
'Neath  frowning  April  skies  ; 

We  wandered,  love  was  in  our  hearts, 
And  sadness  in  our  eyes. 

in. 

Where  flowers  grew  of  every  hue, 

(In  sooth  it  was  no  sin  ;) 
We  kist  the  tears  and  clouds  away, 

And  kist  the  sunshine  in  ! 


Love  Slain.  45 


LOVE  SLAIN. 


God  knows  I  loved  you  clearly, 

I  held  you  half  divine  : 
I  gave  you  once  an  honest  heart, 

You  told  me  yours  was  mine. 
We  met,  we  loved,  we  parted  ; 

Eegret  comes  now,  you  say — 
Alas,  my  heart  is  cold  and  dead, 
I  cannot  love  to-day. 

n. 

Yes,  many  moons,  my  lady, 
Have  waned  since  last  we  met : 

In  Italy  our  vows  were  pledged, 
Where  Eomance  lingers  yet ; 

Where  olive-trees  and  myrtle, 
Love's  secrets  ne'er  betray — 

My  heart  died  on  its  classic  shores ; 
I  cannot  love  to-day. 


46  Love  Slain. 

m. 

No  tender  wiles,  my  lady, 

Can  thrill  a  heart  that's  slain  : 

No  fruit  of  love  your  loveliness 
Can  bring  to  me  again  : 

The  trust  I  lavishly  bestowed 
Was  lightly  cast  away — 

You  come  too  late,  my  faith,  is  wrecked, 
I  cannot  love  to-day  ! 


She  Sleeps  the  Sleep  of  Death.         47 


SHE   SLEEPS   THE   SLEEP  OF  DEATH. 


We  never  shall  meet,  love, 
Except  in  the  skies  I" 

Hood. 


I. 

I  madly  loved  a  high-born  maid — 
(She  sleeps  the  sleep  of  death) 

How  oft  together  we  have  strayed 
Through  many  a  sunny  sylvan  glade, 

To  seek  some  wild  romantic  shade — 
(She  sleeps  the  sleep  of  death). 

II. 

Her  eyes  were  black  as  the  raven's  wing — • 
(She  sleeps  the  sleep  of  death)  ; 

Her  breath  was  the  balm  of  early  Spring  ; 
Her  voice  was  the  birds'  sweet  caroling  ; 

Her  songs  were  such  as  angels  sing — 
(She  sleeps  the  sleep  of  death). 


48         She  Sleeps  the  Sleep  of  Death. 

in. 

We  read  the  self-same  mystic  lore — 
(She  sleeps  the  sleep  of  death) 

Could  ever  maiden  love  me  more  ? 
Could  ever  lover  more  adore  ? 

"Were  ever  hearts  so  bound  before  ? 
(She  sleeps  the  sleep  of  death). 

IV. 

Farewell,  thy  grave  with  tears  are  wet ; 

(Sleep  on,  the  sleep  of  death)  ! 
'Til  sun,  and  moon  and  stars  are  set, 

I'll  not  forget,  I'll  not  forget — 
Farewell,  thy  grave  with  tears  are  wet 

(Sleep  on  the  sleep  of  death). 


O  /  I  Builded  a  Nest.  49 


O!    I  BUILDED  A  NEST. 


0  !  I  builded  a  nest 
In  the  golden  West 
For  my  love,  my  love  of  loves, 

And  her  breast  was  as  white  as  the  white  foam's  crest, 
And  her  form  as  the  sea-nymph's  be. 

ii. 

And  I  fled  to  this  nest 
In  the  golden  West 
With  my  clove,  my  dove  of  doves, 
0  !   a  kiss  from  her  month  was  like  wine  from  the 

South, 
And  her  teeth  were  like  pearls  from  the  sea. 

m. 

0  !  we  blent  in  this  nest 

In  the  golden  West, 
My  heart,  and  my  heart  of  hearts, 
And  we  swept  thro*  a  maze  of  halcyon  days, 
Now  linked  with  eternity. 


50  Oil  Builded  a  Nest. 

IV. 

Ah  !  reft  is  this  nest 
In  the  golden  West — 
All  shattered  are  young  loves'  darts, 
In  a  cypress  gloom  lies  a  desolate  tomb, 
On  the  verge  of  a  tideless  sea  1 


A  Memory.  51 


A  MEMOKY. 


In  a  land  of  lilied  waters, 

In  a  land  whose  dark-eyed  daughters 
Sing  at  twilight  blithe  stornellos  to  the  strum  of  the 
guitar, 

There  I  loved  and  wooed  a  maiden, 

Lissome  as  a  flower  of  Aiden — 
0  !  her  face  was  like  a  poem,  and  her  spirit  like  a  star. 

ii. 

Bright  and  passionate  her  glances, 
As  the  tropic  sunbeam's  lances, 
Spell-bound  was  I  by  her  beauty,  filled  with  all  a 

lover's  fire. 

0  !  her  voice,  like  zephyrs  sighing, 
Thrilled  me  with  its  soft  replying, 
For  -it  breathed  the  long  lost  sweetness  of  Apollo's 
golden  lyre. 


52  A  Memory. 

m. 

Now  she  sleepeth  in  the  valley 
Where  the  drowsy  poppies  dally, 
Swaying  in  a  slumberous  cadence  to  the  midnight's 

mystic  moan, — 

And  my  heart  is  steeped  in  sorrow, 
And  my  soul  knows  no  to-morrow, 
For  each  day's  returning  shadow  finds  me  all  the  moro 
alone. 


•  The  Laddie  and  Lassie  sae  True.       53 


THE  LADDIE    AND  LASSIE  SAE   TRUE. 


i. 


On  the  banks  o*  the  Doon  lived  a  laddie  sae  brave, 

And  near  him  a  lassie  sae  true  ; 
Their  hearts  were  as  pure  as  the  great  stars  above  ; 

Their  love  it  was  tender  and  new  ! 
And  aft  in  the  gloaming,  these  twa  went  a  roaming, 

When  dew  was  on  flower  and  tree  ; 
And  whispered  their  love  by  the  light  o'  the  moon — 

As  canty,  as  canty  could  be. 


II. 


But  the  death  angel  glanced  with  an  envious  smile, 

On  the  love  that  these  twa  bore  ilk  ither  ; 
And  followed  them  closely  ane  da'  as  they  clamb 

Arm  in  arm  thro'  the  woodlands  thegither — 
And  bending  his  bow  on  the  maiden  below, 

He  sent  forth  the  arrow  o'  fate  ! 
The  lassie  she  died  in  the  arms  o*  her  laird, 

The  laddie  he  mourned  for  his  mate. 


54        The  Laddie  and  Lassie  sae  True. 

in. 

Now  what  was  the  warld  to  this  laddie  sae  glide, 

Bereft  o'  his  lassie  sae  dear  ; 
He  never  again  trod  the  love  beaten  paths, 

Wi'out  shedding  mony  a  tear — 
Each  night  by  her  grave  this  laddie  sac  brave 

Would  watch  'til  the  dawning  o'  da' — 
Ane  morn  he  was  found  bending  low  o'er  her  tomb, 

But  his  spirit  had  wandered  awa*. 


Gladys.  55 


GLADYS. 


i. 


Fair  Gladys  blew  me  a  tender  kiss — 
A  kiss  from  lips  as  red  as  a  rose — 

A  kiss  that  followed  me  far  I  wis, 

Far  over  the  moorland's  drifted  snows. 


ii. 


And  with  it  was  mingled  a  farewell  vow — 
A  vow  she  pledged  'ere  I  galloped  away — 

A  vow  as  sacred  as  any,  I  trow, 
As  Brahmin  e'er  made  as  he  turned  to  pray. 


in. 


Ah  !  fair  was  she  as  King  Arthur's  queen — 
A  queen  Sir  Lancelot  could  not  gain — 

A  queen  whose  power  was  such,  I  ween, 
As  Troubador  sang  in  gallant  refrain. 


56  Gladys. 

IV. 

But  Gladys  lies  in  her  cold,  cold  grave — 
Her  grave  prankt  over  with  Asphodel — 

Her  grave,  whose  sod  with  my  tears  I  lave — 
God  wot,  my  Gladys,  I  loved  thee  well ! 


/  Once  Knew   a  Love.  57 


I  ONCE  KNEW  A   LOVE. 


i. 

I  once  knew  a  love  that  was  solely 
Too  fair — for  the  earth  and  its  sod ; 

I  once  knew  a  love  that  was  holy 
And  pure  as  an  angel  of  God. 

ii. 

Alas  !  it  was  cruelly  slighted, 
And  cherished  not  'til  it  did  fly  ; 

Too  tender  and  pure  to  be  blighted, 
It  winged  its  way  back  to  the  sky. 


58  Gone. 


GONE. 


I  yearn  for  faces  that  were  sunshine  to  me  ; 

I  long  for  voices  that  I  hear  no  more — 
That  sent  a  sweet,  sad  rhythmic  music  thro*  me, 

And  charmed  with  love  those  happy  days  of  yore. 

ii. 

Farewell,  ye  faces — poems  lost  forever  ; 

Farewell,  ye  voices,  sweet  as  heavenly  strain ; 
I  miss  ye — there  are  others,  but  they  never 

Can  thrill  or  make  as  glad  my  life  again. 


Those  Harps  of  Gold. 


THOSE  HARPS  OF  GOLD. 


"When  life  was  young, 

And  love  was  new, 
And  the  world  was  not  so  cold — 

I  often  sat  with  a  hungry  car, 

And  heard  dream-music  soft  and  clear  ; 

Such,  I  am  sure,  as  the  angels  hear, 
When  they  sweep  their  harps  of  gold  ; 
Those  mystical  strings  of  gold  ! 

ii. 

Still  life  is  young, 
But  love  is  dead  ! 

And  my  heart,  as  death,  is  cold. 

No  more  I  catch,  with  hungry  ear, 
Those  ravishing  notes  so  soft,  so  clear — 
God  wot,  those  notes  that  the  angels  hear 

When  swept  are  their  harps  of  gold  j 

Those  beautiful  harps  of  gold  ! 


60  Farewell. 


FAREWELL. 


Farewell,  my  life,  my  spirit's  light  ! 

Farewell,  love-happy  years— 
My  soul  is  swathed  in  robes  of  night 

My  heart  is  drowned  in  tears  ! 

n. 

My  sky  with  sorrow's  clouds  is  rife, 
My  days  are  full  of  gloom  ; 

In  heaven  my  love  may  find  its  life — 
On  earth  it  found  its  tomb  ! 

in. 

Alas,  that  we  should  meet  to  part — 
Alas  that  love  should  die ; 

Farewell,  forever,  0,  my  heart — 
0,  God  !  Farewell,  for  aye  ! 


Our  Little  Life  is  Rounded  with  a  Sleep  61 


"OUR  LITTLE   LIFE  IS  ROUNDED   WITH   A 
SLEEP." 


i. 

With  intervals  of  laughter, 

With  intervals  of  song, 
And  pains  that  follow  after, 

And  woe  that  lingers  long  ; 

ii. 

With  briefest  hours  for  wooing, 
When  white  arms  round  us  cling ; 

With  grief  o'er  love's  undoing, 
When  love  hath  taken  wing  ; 

|    in. 

With  intervals  of  working, 

With  intervals  of  sleep, 
And  death  behind  us  lurking, 

And  loss  of  love  to  weep  ; 


62   Our  Little  Life  is  Rounded  with  a  Sleep. 


IV. 


So  long  the  time  for  sorrow, 
So  short  when  joy's  the  guest, 

"Tis  well  we  find  to-morrow 
An  eternity  for  rest ! 


Course  of  Life.  63 


COURSE  OF   LIFE. 

PART  I. 

"  A  spirit  pure  as  hers 
Is  always  pure,  e'en  when  it  errs  ; 
As  sunshine  broken  in  a  rill, 
Though  turned  astray,  is  sunshine  still." 

Lalla  Roolch. 

1. 

I'm  out  to-day,  I  warn  you,  for  the  money, 
The  new  suburban,  in  the  free  for  all — 

My,  Pegasus  is  groomed,  and  feeling  funny, 
But  he  can  get  there  when  I  make  the  call ; 

And  if  you  back  my  steed  you'll  take  the  honey, 
But  if  you  don't  you'll  let  the  sweetmeats  fall  ; 

I'm  going  to  ride  to-day  for  all  I'm  worth, 

And  break  the  fastest  record  on  the  earth. 

2. 
Now  take  the  rein,  my  winged  horse,  and  chase 

With  me  the  follies  on  the  course  of  life  ; 
We'll  have  to-day  a  most  exciting  race, 

The  road  with  interesting  scenes  is  rife  ; 
We'll  lead  the  van,  and  take  no  second  place, 

We'll  visit  first  a  beauty,  soon  a  wife  ; 


64  Course  of  Life. 

She  is  a  Venus  decked  in  fine  array, 
And  lives  in  splendor  many  miles  away  ! 

3. 

The  house  rests  like  a  bird's  nest  'mid  the  hills, 
And  flowers  prank  the  roads  on  either  side  ; 

A  brook,  and  many  little  mountain  rills, 

Make  glad  the  landscape  as  they  laughing  glide  ; 

Five  acres  of  the  ground  the  owner  tills, 
Another  five  with  fruit  trees  rolls  in  pride  ; 

And  five  around  the  house  is  rich  with  flowers, 

And  statuary,  rustic  seats  and  bowers. 

4. 

And  hither  dwells  the  ludy  sweet  and  fair  ; 

She  is  a  dream  of  loveliness  divine  ; 
Like  skeins  of  sunshine  falls  her  golden  hair, 

Her  form  and  grace  vie  with  the  classic  nine  ; 
Her  cheeks  are  red,  her  face  is  pure  as  prayer, 

Her  loving  eyes  like  skies  of  April  shine  ; 
In  sooth  she.  is  the  essence  of  completeness, 
And  rules  her  realm  as  Venus  did,  with  sweetness. 

5. 
To  one  of  wealth  this  lady  is  engaged, 

He  goes  by  the  euphonious  name  of  Brown  ; 
And  oftentimes  this  maiden  has  enraged 

Him  sorely,  by  flirtations  'round  the  town. 


Course  of  Life.  65 

I  think  lie  will  be  glad  when  she  is  caged, 

But  little  cares  she  for  this  prudish  clown  ; 
She  tolerates  him  simply  for  his  gold — 
For  hearts,  you  know,  are  now  days  bought  and  sold  ! 

6. 

But  there  was  one  beloved  by  Mabel  well 
(That  is,  she  loved  as  women  now  are  able) ; 

He  was  a  most  pretentious  lady's  swell, 
With  hair  and  moustache  both  as  black  as  sable  ; 

This  handsome,  reckless  youth  afar  did  dwell, 
But  yet  to  him  her  love  was  as  a  cable  ; 

She  drew  him  with  her  eyes  and  fond  caresses, 

Her  little  feet  and  decollete  dresses  ! 

7. 

'Tvvas  in  the  fragrant  month  of  rosy  June, 
He  came  to  spend  a  fortnight  with  this  maid ; 

The  birds,  and  bees,  and  flowers  were  in  tune, 
And  sportive  zephyrs  'round  the  gardens  play'd  j 

And  often,  guided  only  by  the  moon, 
Fair  Mabel,  and  her  gallant  lover  strayed 

Beyond  the  call  of  Brown,  who  watched  them  both, 

And  swore  (tho'  to  himself)  an  awful  oath  ! 

8. 

One  moonlight  night  when  Brown  was  rather  sour, 
Sweet  Mabel  and  her  gallant  took  a  stroll, 


66  Course  of  Life. 

And  wandered  to  a  most  secluded  bower, 
O'er-canopied  with  roses,  on  a  knoll ; 

It  was  'twixt  nine  and  ten,  that  witching  hour, 
When  lovers  kiss  away  their  very  soul ; 

111  fine — it  was  that  balmy  hour  of  gladness, 

That  poets  praise  in  love's  delirous  madness. 

9. 

She  was  as  sweet  and  languishing  as  ever, 
And  full  of  coy  advances  and  retreats- 
He  was  as  usual  loveable  and  clever, 

And  very  close  together  were  their  seats  ; 
He  kissed  her,  and  she  said,  "  I  really  never 

Saw  so  much  impudence,"  and  yet  she  meets, 
With  her  sweet  lips  again  his  black  moustache, 
And  this  time  doesn't  deem  it  very  rash  ! 

10. 

Now,  was  this  kissing  wrong  ?  I  do  not  kno\v, 

Nor  will  I  judgment  pass — for  I'm  a  sinner — 
Although  I  never  thought  her  g.illant  slow, 

And  always  picked  him  out  for  place  or  winner- 
He  had  a  kind  of  dash  which  some  call  "  go," 

A  something  seldom  found  in  a  beginner, 
A  certain  winning  magnetizing  manner 
Which  upsets  people  like  a  peeled  banana. 


Course  of  Life.  67 

11. 


12. 
But,  hark  !  a  step  is  beard  upon  the  walk, 

An  unpropitious  time  for  such  a  sound  ; 
And  Mabel  quickly  whispered,  "  Here's  that  gawk, 

I  know  his  step.    It's  Brown  patrolling  •'round  ! 
Hark  !  hear  him  to  himself  in  anger  talk. 

Go,  leave  me,  please,  if  we  should  here  be  found 
Alone  together,  I  might  tears  be  shedding, 
Because  next  month  there  might  not  be  a  wedding." 

13, 

"  I  love  him  not,  but  he's  a  millionaire, 
And  maybe  I  can  help  you  when  we're  wed  ; 

Be  quick,  he's  coming,  hasten  anywhere — 

(I  would  I  were  his  wife,  and  he  were  dead)  •" 

Then  down  she  sat  in  thought,  or  silent  prayer, 
And  just  as  Brown  called  "  Mabel  ?"  Arthur  fled. 


68  Course  of  Life. 

"  What  do  you  wish  ?"  she  answered,  "  I  am  here  I* 
And  pouting,  struggled  hard  to  drop  a  tear. 

14. 
"  Why,  darling,  are  you  sitting  there  alone  ? 

Now  do  not  pout  like  that,  come  stroll  with  mo  ; 
You  must  excuse  to-night  my  hasty  tone, 

And  henceforth  I  will  strive  to  better  be  ; 
But  Mabel,  dear,  I  love  you,  and  I  own 

That  when  that  frisky  dude  with  you  I  see ; 
Although  I  know  you  love  him  not,  I  fret — 
Perhaps  I  am  a  little  jealous,  pet  I" 

15. 
"  I  will  not  leave  this  spot,  nor  walk  with  you, 

Unless  you  truly  vow  to  frown  no  more  ; 
Or  angry  be,  no  matter  what  I  do  ; 

You  know  full  well,  I  love  you  and  adore  ! 
So  if  I  take  a  stroll  with  one,  or  two, 

Say  Arthur,  or  some  other  friend,  or  bore  ; 
I  do  it  to  be  courteous,  that  is  all, 
And  you  must  never  blame  me,  love,  or  call !" 

16. 
"  Well,  well,  my  lovey-dovey,  come  along, 

I  will  excuse  you,  for  I  know  I  must ; 
I'll  strive  to  curb  my  temper,  and  be  strong 

(You  be  the  broom,  and  I  will  be  the  dust) ; 


Course  of  Life.  69 

And  when  I  see  you  with  a  giddy  throng, 

Or  rambling  out  with  Arthur,  I  will  trust 
That  your  warm  heart  and  thoughts  are  all  with  me, 
And  that  you  merely  go  for  courtesy." 

17. 
"  That's  right,  my  precious,  now  I  love  you,  dear," 

And  jumping  up  they  strolled  out  in  the  night ; 
She  banished  from  her  mind  all  future  fear, 

And  her  rich  lover's  heart  with  cheer  was  bright ; 
He  trusted  her  with  faith  that  was  sincere, 

She  lured  him  as  a  moth  is  lured  by  light — 
And  both  were  happy,  now  the  tiff  was  o'er 
(Alas,  the  world  is  rotten  at  the  core)  ! 

18. 
E'en  Brown,  who  was  himself  a  warm  defender 

Of  every  letter  in  the  moral  code, 
Once  in  a  while  got  off  upon  a  bender, 

And  wandered  to  a  house  ad  own  the  road  ; 
And  it  is  said,  his  feelings,  warm  and  tender, 

Had  with  a  maiden  there  unwisely  glowed ; 
In  fact,  though  virtue  was  his  daily  text, 
He  was  as  big  a  d — 1  as  the  next ! 

19. 

Just  two  nights  later  when  the  moon  was  beaming, 
Sweet  Mabel  in  a  dress  of  lace  and  lawn, 


70  Course  of  Life. 

"With  satin  loops,  and  pale  blue  ribbons  streaming, 
And  floating  curls  like  gold  of  early  dawn  ; 

Walked  with  her  lover,  Arthur,  sweetly  dreaming, 
And  luring  as  fair  Venus  ocean-born  ; 

Unto  an  arbor  decked  with  vines  and  flowers, 

Where  love  had  dallied  many  golden  hours. 

20. 

Once  more  they  sat  and  talked  of  love  together, 
Of  days  long  past,  and  other  days  to  be  ; 

Then  it  was  of  the  moon,  then  of  the  weather, 
Then  of  life,  death,  and  deep  futurity  ; 

But  these  were  lightly  skimmed,  and  in  the  heather, 
A  bird  called  to  his  mate  up  in  a  tree  ; 

He  took  the  hint  pressed  closer  on  the  seat, 

So  near,  each  heart  could  hear  the  other  beat. 

21. 

And  now,  her  golden  curls,  beneath  her  head, 
Lie  crushed  upon  his  breast,  her  loving  eyes 

Guze  sweetly  into  his,  her  lips  of  red 
Feel  daintily  love's  pressure  and  surprise  ; 

Again  her  rose-bud  lips  to  his  are  wed, 
And  both  drift  into  Love's  sweet  Paradise, 

And  all  the  world  to  them  a  desert  seems 

Compared  with  the  elysium  of  their  dreams. 


Course  of  Life.  7 1 

22. 

0  !  happy,  happy  night,  so  full  of  bliss  ; 

0,  happy,  happy  earth,  and  happy  stars  ; 
0  !  happy,  happy  dream,  and  happy  kiss  ; 

0  !  happy  sunset,  with  its  golden  bars — 
0  !  Paradise  is  not  more  sweet  than  this  ! 

There's  nothing  anywhere  that  frets  or  mars  ; 
Love  robes  the  world  with  many  gorgeous  dyes, 
And  paints  soft  rainbows  in  true-lovers  eyes. 

23. 

What  would  this  earth  be  truly  without  love  ? 

What  would  it  be  without  sweet  cupid's  arts  ? 
He  tunes  the  happy  moon  and  stars  above  ; 

He  regulates  the  fires  in  our  hearts. 
'Tis  he  that  brings  us  peace,  like  white-wing'd  dove  ; 

'Tis  he  that  dries  our  eyes,  when  trickling  starts, 
Hot,  burning  tears  adown  our  cheeks  of  woe. 
Ah  !  treat  him  Avell,  lest  he  may  wandering  go  ! 

24. 

Avaunt  !  you  moral  icebergs,  get  you  hence  ! 

What  do  you  know  of  heart,  or  soul,  or  love  ? 
Go  lock  your  doors  and  count  your  hoarded  pence, 

The  true  gold  of  the  heart  you  know  not  of ; 
Your  heart  is  sharp,  and  cold,  like  picket  fence 

All  painted  white  ;  but  mine,  with  fires  above 


72  Course  of  Life. 

Is  lit,  and  will  be  warm  'til  life  is  o'er, 

For  Love,  himself,  stands  watchful  at  the  door. 

25. 

You  ask  me  if  this  story  I  have  told, 
Is  my  idea  of  love  that's  sweet  and  pure  ; 

I  tell  you  that  loves'  purest,  finest  gold, 
Was  in  these  gentle,  loving  hearts,  I'm  sure. 

But  as  for  Brown,  I'll  own,  I  do  not  hold 
His  love  was  such  as  would  for  aye  endure; 

And  though  he  posed  a  model,  never  fret, 

He  knew  not  even  love's  pure  alphabet ! 

26. 
Of  all  the  people  on  this  mundane  sphere, 

I  hate  a  sneak,  and  carping  hypocrite  ; 
And  from  them  both,  God  wot,  I  always  stoer, 

For  neither  have  a  modicum  of  wit ; 
There  are  no  names  to  call  them  too  severe  ; 

Of  common-sense  they  never  had  a  bit. 
E'en  what  I've  said  sings  far  too  high  their  praises, 
So  they  can  go  to ,  I  mean  to  blazes  ! 

27. 
'Tis  better  to  be  clever,  honest,  wood, 

In  dismal  swamp,  than  piece  of  pine  veneered, 
E'en  though  within  a  bridal  chamber  stood, 

Deceiving,  hoping  thus  to  be  revered  : 


Course  of  Life.  73 

For  God's  sake,  by  the  world  be  understood, 

Have  dignity,  if  you  would  be  endeared  ; 
In  other  words,  you'd  better  live  and  die 
Just  what  you  are,  than  prove  a  life-long  lie  ! 

28. 

Excuse  this  burst  of  temper,  0,  my  friends, 
Believe  me,  you  would  like  me,  if  we  met ; 

I  am  not  one  who  shamingly  pretends, 

And  often  have  my  eyes  with  tears  been  wet ; 

Ah  !  pride  I  have,  but  oftentimes  it  bends, 
And  I've  known  troubles  that  have  made  me  fret ; 

But  still  I  strive  to  be  just  what  I  am, 

And  for  this  world  I  do  not  care  a  damn  ! 

29. 
It  is  the  next  I'm  looking  for,  in  sooth 

Fve  not  found  many  roses  here  below  ; 
It  seems  to  me  I've  had  a  wasted  youth, 

And  yet  my  hair  is  dark  and  free  from  snow. 
But  two  and  thirty  years  are  mine  in  truth, 

And  yet  my  heart  is  heavy  oft  with  woe. 
0  !  for  one  honest  friend,  oue  leal  and  true ; 
My  dog's  the  only  one  I  ever  knew  ! 

30. 

My  dog,  aye,  Nora's  with  me  when  I  rise — 
She's  with  me  when  I  go  at  night  to  bed  ; 


74  Course  of  Life. 

y 

Stands,  watches,  with  her  dark-brown  liquid  eyes,- 
For  e'en  the  slightest  sign  from  hand  or  head. 

On  rug  of  fur,  at  night,  she  sleeping  lies, 

So  still  you'd  almost  think  that  she  was  dead  ; 

But  if  I  stir,  she  gives  her  tail  a  shake, 

Stands,  looks  into  my  face,  on  guard,  awake  ! 


31. 


She  takes  my  letters  for  me  to  the  mail, 
And  happy  seems  each  order  to  obey  ; 

And  when  she's  thro',  wags  thrice  her  shaggy  tail, 
Then  prances  like  a  kitten,  full  of  play. 

She  follows  me  with  watchful  eye  thro'  dale 
And  meadow,  or  wherever  I  may  stray  ; 

For  we  enjoy  this  golden,  autumn  weather, 

And  many  rambles  have  we  had  together  ! 


32. 


Acquaintances  are  plenty,  friends  are  few, 
And  very  rich,  indeed,  he  who  has  one ; 

He  is  as  rich  as  Croesus  who  has  two  ; 
But  such  things  rarely  happen  'neath  the  sun  ! 

My  dog  is  at  my  side,  and  seems  to  sue 
For  some  attention,  and  as  1  have  done 

With  this  short  story,  I  cannot  refrain  ! 

Come,  Nora  !  go  and  bring  my  hat  and  cane  ! 


Course  of  Life.  75 


PART  II. 

"  O,  she  doth  teach  the  torches  to  burn  bright  ! 
It  seems  she  hangs  upon  the  cheek  of  night 
Like  a  rich  jewel  in  an  Ethiope's  ear — " 

Shakespeare. 

I. 
Ho,  slave  !  bring  forth  the  royal  steed  again, 

His  golden  housing  don,  and  silver  chains  ; 
Look  to  his  wings,  groom  well  his  fiery  mane  ; 

His  silken  bridle  use  and  velvet  reins — 
We  ride  in  pomp  to-day  across  the  plain 

Unto  a  realm  where  wealth  and  beauty  reigns. 
The  hour  is  late,  I  must  at  once  away  ! 
What  !  ho,  there,  slave  !  bring  forth  the  steed,  I  say. 

2. 

Aye  !  here  he  is,  whoa,  Pegasus,  be  still ! 

Be  quick,  you  swarthy  imp,  and  lead  him  near  ; 
There,  steady  now,  my  fiery  one,  until 

I'm  mounted,  then  athwart  the  plain  we'll  steer  ; 
I'll  give  you  rein,  and  you  may  have  your  will, 

There's  nothing  on  this  earth  we  need  to  fear ; 
We're  out  again  to  break  the  fastest  time 
That  ever  has  been  made  in  any  clime. 


76  Course  of  Life 

3. 
One  leap,  aud  lie  is  off ;  now  swift  we  fly. 

My  conscience  how  ho  sweeps  along  the  way  ! 
Whoa !  keep  thy  speed,  we'll  need  it  by  and  by. 

Quite  soon  we'll  reach  the  castle,  old  and  gray 
"Where  dwells  a  queen,  whose  beauty  none  deny. 

She  is  as  fair  as  moonbeams,  when  at  play 
Upon  a  silver  cascade  decked  with  flowers, 
Where  wood-nymphs  dally  thro'  Night's  golden  hours. 


And  here's  the  grove,  the  laud  is  long  and  wide, 
With  silvery  lakes  and  flowers  dispread  to  please  ; 

(My  Pegasus  is  prancing  plumed  with  pride) 
The  evening's  fresh,  and  spicy  is  the  breeze  ; 

Like  flying  clouds  before  the  wind  we  glide, 
'Midst  beauty  spreadiug  out  in  wildering  seas  ; 

But  soft,  sweet  music  greets  my  thirsty  ear  ; 

Now  for  the  brilliant  fete,  the  Castle's  near. 


Within  the  palace  all  is  joy  to-night  ; 

Out  in  the  garden  golden  lamps  are  lit 
Within  the  trees,  and  all  around  is  jight, 

And  up  and  down  the  masqueraders  flit ; 
On  flowery  banks  are  purple  cushions  bright, 

And  many  lovely  ladies  on  them  sit ; 


Course  of  Life.  77 

And  'round  them  gallants  gather  thick  as  flies, 
And  everyone  has  donned  some  strange  disguise. 

6. 
See  yonder  beauty  with  those  coal-black  eyes 

And  floating  hair,  with  costly  diamonds  crown'd  ; 
Dressed  in  a  silken  robe,  blue  as  the  skies, 

And  loose,  silk  amber-trousers  neatly  wound 
In  at  the  ankles,  and  with  sweet  surprise 

Upon  her  bare  feet  saffron  sandals  bound  ? 
She  is  the  queen  !  but  no  one  dreams  that  she, 
Is  masquerading  as  her  subjects  be  ! 

7. 
She  bade  the  throng  good  night  an  hour  ago, 

And  all  supposed  that  she  was  weary  worn 
And  had  retired  to  peaceful  sleep  ;  but  no, 

"Within  her  chamber,  nimbly  as  a  fawn, 
She  changed  her  state  apparel,  and  the  glow 

Of  deep  excitement  in  her  breast  was  born, 
For  she  had  in  her  mind  resolved  to  lay 
Aside  her  grandeur,  and  for  once  be  gay  ! 

8. 
No  one  knew  whom  she  was,  and  she  was  free 

To  stroll,  and  flirt,  and  do  whatever  she  pleased  ; 
And  many  a  courtier  who  had  bent  his  knee 

To  her  before  the  throne,  now  gently  seized 


78  Course  of  Life. 

Her  lily  hand  without  that  dignity, 

And  with  their  lips,  her  own  lips  gently  teased — 
Indeed  she  loved  so  much  the  sweet  attention 
Of  these  young  knights,  she  made  but  slight  dissen 
sion. 

9. 

A  handsome  knight,  who  dearly  loved  the  queen, 
Now  strolled  up  to  her,  though  he  knew  her  not, 

And  said,  with  smiling  eye  and  gallant  mien, 
"The  fairest  rose  in  all  the  garden  plot ; 

This  is  the  first  your  loveliness,  I've  seen. 
Let's  take  a  stroll  to  yon  fair  flowery  spot." 

She  gently  bowed  and  took  his  proffered  arm, 

Which  seemed  to  her  filled  with  magnetic  charm. 

10. 
They  strolled  and  talked,  she  seemed  to  reel  with  bliss, 

The  knight  she  recognized  and  loved  him,  too — 
And  when  he  sealed  her  lips  with  gentle  kiss, 

She  felt  the  shock  electric  through  and  through — 
"  How  much  do  queens  and  stately  ladies  miss  1'" 

She  said  unto  herself — "  This  life  is  new  !" 
And  when  he  kissed  her  rosy-lips  again, 
Without  reserve  she  kissed  him  back  amain. 

11. 

He,  too,  with  her  sweet  innocence  was  charmed, 
And  gently  led  her  to  a  flowery  bed  ; 


Course  of  Life.  79 

And  there  they  sat,  like  ships  at  sea  becalmed, 
And  hugged  and  kissed  like  couple  newly  wed  ; 

He  kissed  her  'til  she  nlrnost  grew  alarmed, 
But  too  delirious  she  to  have  much  dread  ; 

He  kissed  her  feet,  her  limbs,  her  neck  of  snow, 

How  many  times  the  flowers  only  know  ! 

13. 

And  when  at  length  their  dalliance  was  o'er, 
They  strolled  again  among  the  happy  throng ; 

And  when  they  reached  at  last  the  castle  door, 
She  said,  "  Sir  Knight,  excuse  me,  and  'ere  long 

I'll  come  again  " — yet  she  returned  no  more, 
But  fled  unto  her  chamber,  with  a  song 

Of  love,  so  pure  and  tender  in  her  breast, 

It  lulled  her  to  sweet  dreams,  that  night,  to  rest ! 


13. 

'Twas  late  next  morning  when  the  queen  awoke, 
And  after  her  rich  toilet  hnd  been  made, 

She  placed  an  amber  silk  embroidered  cloak 

About  her  shoulders,  then  knelt  down  and  prayed. 

It  may  be  that  her  conscience  did  provoke 
This  prayer,  for  sins  lust  evening  in  the  glade  ; 

But  if  it  did,  she  prayed  but  half  a  minute, 

Mayhap  because  her  sin  had  such  bliss  in  it ! 


8o  Course  of  Life. 

14. 

She  then  arose,  walked  to  another  room, 
All  garnished  with  appointments  rich  and  rare ; 

Where  at  one  end  a  fountain  of  perfume 
Threw  off  its  fragrance  on  the  drowsy  air  ; 

She  washed  within  it,  and  a  fresher  bloom 
Seemed  spread  o'er  hands  and  face  already  fair  ; 

Then  on  a  'broidered  couch  of  velvet  pink, 

She  laid  down,  like  a  sunbeam  pure,  to  think  ! 

15. 

Then  with  a  dreamy  languor,  touched  a  bell, 

Upon  a  polished  table  by  her  side  ; 
The  maid  in  waiting  understood  it  well, 

And  soft  as  shadow  to  the  queen  did  glide  ; 
"  Ah  !  ever  faithful  Zadee,  prithee  tell 

The  captain  of  the  guard  I  would  confide 
A  message  to  him  of  importance  great, 
In  reference  to  some  matters  of  the  State." 

16. 

Away  to  do  her  bidding  Zadee  sped, 

And  soon  before  the  qneen  the  captain  stood  ; 

She  resting  still  upon  her  velvet  bed, 

A  dream  of  every  essence  sweet  and  good  ; 

He  bent  his  knee,  then  kist  her  hand  and  said, 
"0  !  queen,  that  mortal  must  be  made  of  wood 


Course  of  Life.  81 

Who  thrilled  not  when  your  beauty  met  his  eyes 
(Eve's  fairest  child  this  side  of  Paradise  !)" 

17. 
"  You  flatter,  knight/'  the  gracious  queen  replied, 

"  Last  evening  at  the  fete,  you  loved  a  maid 
In  Turkish  costume,  who  sat  by  your  side 

And  listened  to  the  compliments  you  paid. 
She  was  a  woman  full  of  love  and  pride, 

And  loved  you,  ah,  too  much  so  in  the  glade  ; 
Unable  her  warm  passions  to  control, 
She  kissed  and  kissed  away  her  heart  and  soul. 

18. 
"  And  what  to-day,  care  you  for  that  poor  child  ? 

(You  men  are  fickle  as  the  summer  wind  ;) 
Now  come,  Sir  Knight,  since  you  her  heart  beguiled, 

I  doubt  if  one  stray  thought  has  crossed  your  mind 
About  her  ;  yet,  I  know,  pure,  nndefiled 

She  is  as  any  lady  you  can  find  ; 
She  gave  to  you  an  honest,  trusting  heart, 
And  you  but  acted  out  a  selfish  part. 

19. 

"  Don't  look  surprised,  this  maiden  well  I  know, 
I  have  the  very  suit  she  wore  near  by ; 

Her  heart  burns  for  you  with  an  ./Etna's  glow, 
And  many  times  this  morn  Fve  heard  her  sigh." 


82  Course  of  Life. 

"  Hold,  queen  !"  the  captain  said,  "  nor  further  go — 

For  that  fair  maid  to-day,  I'd  gladly  die, 
Although  I  know  her  not,  nor  e'en  her  name, 
She  fled  the  fete  as  strangely  as  she  came. 

20. 
"Fair  queen,  pray  grant  that  she  and  I  may  meet, 

That  I  may  prove  my  love  and  constancy  ; 
My  heart  for  her  shall  never  cease  to  beat ; 

I  love  her  for  her  innocence  and  glee." 
"  Your  wish  I'll  honor,  knight,  pray  take  a  seat, 

And  if  you  look  with  watchful  care  at  me, 
Your  little  Turkish  maid  will  then  be  seen; 
I  am  to  you  the  maid — and  not  the  queen  !" 

21. 
"  0,  Heaven  !  can  it  be  possible,  and  may 

I  love  you  as  I  love  my  very  life  ? 
Your  slightest  wish  my  pleasure  to  obey, 

My  greatest  bliss  to  crown  you  as  my  wife. 

0  !  love,  break  not  my  dream,  sweet,  only  say 
That  it  is  true,  and  life  with  joy  is  rife  ; 

1  love  you  not,  0,  queen  !  for  throne  or  power, 
But  for  your  own  dear  self — my  passion  flower  I" 

22. 

He  sprang  and  kist  her  where  she  folded  lay 
All  temptingly,  and  smoothed  her  classic  head  j 


Course  of  Life.  83 

She  did  not  faint,  nor  even  say  him  "nay," 
But  gave  her  heart  and  soul  to  him  instead  ; 

He  loved  her  in  the  good  old-fashioned  way. 
She  loved  him,  'til  with  love  she  was  most  dead ; 

Ay  !  both  drank  deeply  Loves'  unstinted  measure, 

And  seemed  translated  to  the  Isle  of  Pleasure. 


84  Course  of  Life. 


PART  III. 

"Advice  is  as  plentiful  as  spring  flowers, 
But  not  always  as  odoriferous."  

"  Nothing  more  true  than  not  to  trust'  your  senses 
And  yet  what  are  your  other  evidences  ?" 

Byron. 

1. 

Who  never  marries  does  exceeding  well  ; 

Who  marries  once  sometimes  regrets  the  splice  ; 
Who  marries  twice  is  under  fatal  spell, 

Begrets  too  late  and  sells  at  any  price  ; 

Who  marries  thrice  has  lost  all  dreadof  hell, 
^ -*».        > 

Pardonncz-moi,  though  this  be  fa»  from  nice, 
The  fact  is  true  ;  but  if  you  should  deny  it, 
Why  go  into  the  world  and  bravely  try  it  1 

2. 

How  seldom  on  this  circling  ball  is  seen 

A  true,  self-abnegating,  loving  wife  ; 
"  Like  angel's  visits,  few  and  far  between  " 

They  are  ;  God's  blessing  rest  upon  them  rife  ! 
How  do  I  know  ?  by  observation  keen. 

God  gave  it  me,  I've  used  it  all  my  life  ; 
Here  is  a  thought,  dear  reader,  to  remember, 
Good  wives  are  scarce  as  violets  in  December. 


Course  of  Life.  85 

3. 

The  gentle  voice  of  loving  wife  or  maid, 

Is  like  Apollo's  lyre,  sweet  and  low  ; 
The  rasping  of  a  grumbling  wife  or  jade 

Is  like  the  cawing  of  a  carrion  crow — 
The  preference  for  the  crow  must  here  be  made, 

As  many  men  and  weary  husbands  know  ; 
Unable  to  shut  up,  like  dinner  knives, 
Are  all  these  bilious,  scolding  maids  and  wives. 

4. 

'Tis  easier  to  bend  a  forest  oak 

Than  to  convince  a  "  ranter  "  she  is  wrong  ; 
The  last  word  would  be  her's  tho'  she  should  choke  ; 

Her  tongue  is  so  unmerciful  and  long  ; 
Her  temper  under  headway  would  provoke 

An  angel  schooled  in  Heaven  to  peace  and  song ; 
Good  Lord,  deliver  me  from  a  virago  ! 
I  scorn  them  as  Othello  did  lago  ! 

5. 


But  no  man  ever  lived  upon  the  earth 
Who  loved  a  gentle  woman  more  than  I ; 

Farniore  than  wealth  I  hold  a  heart  of  worth  ; 
Far  more  than  diamonds  rare,  an  honest  sigh. 

God  bless  them,  for  to-day  there  is  a  dearth  ! 
God  spare  them,  for  too  soon  from  us  they  fly  ; 


86  Course  of  Life. 


life's  sweetest  things  their  stay  is  brief, 
And  that  is  why  this  world  has  so  much  grief  ! 

6. 
"  A  laugh,"  said  Lamb,  "is  worth  a  hundred  groans 

In  any  market  —  "  and  I  hold  it  true  ; 
I  like  to  laugh,  and  sing  and  shake  my  bones, 

For  I  from  babyhood  on  laughter  grew  ; 
If  you  like  babbling  tongues  and  direful  moans, 

Why  have  them  !  I  will  never  quarrel  with  you. 
But  as  for  me  I  never  give  them  quarter, 
I  hate  them  as  does  Satan  holy  water  ! 

7. 

But  Fve  a  little  story  I  would  tell 
And  have  digressed,  so  will  at  once  begin  ; 

But  when  I  moralize  sometimes  I  dwell 

Too  long,  mayhap,  so  please  excuse  the  sin  ; 

It  makes  variety,  I  like  it  well, 

But  if  you  don't  it  will  not  make  me  thin  ; 

For  I  but  little  care  about  your  censures 

And  suit  myself  in  literary  ventures, 

8. 
Two  sisters  lived  not  very  far  away, 

Jane's  face  was  as  repellant  as  a  crow, 
But  that  of  Maud  was  like  the  rippling  play 

Of  sunbeams  on  a  bank  of  virgin  snow. 


Course  of  Life.  87 

Jane's  disposition  was  remote  from  gay, 

Her  heart  had  never  known  a  fervent  glow  ; 
Maud's  temperament  was  loving,  chaste  and  sweet, 
Born  in  a  heart  of  more  than  tropic  heat ! 

9. 

Both  of  the  girls  were  young  and  lovers  had, 
And  both  a  fortune  claimed  in  their  own  right ; 

Jane's  lover,  like  herself,  was  wisely  sad, 
But  Maud's  intended  was  a  happy  wight ; 

Ay,  Maud  and  William  every  day  were  glad, 

But  Jane  and  George  scarce  knew  of  pure  delight; 

They  claimed  one  should  be  sad  to  be  religious, 

But  Maud  and  William  thought  this  quite  prodigious! 

10. 
Yes,  Jane  was  meek,  George  was  a  bashful  gawk  ; 

'Tw:is  said  he  w;is  too  modest  to  embrace 
A  bare  idea,  and  she  refused  to  walk 

O'er  a  potato  field  in  any  place  ! 
And  oftentimes  her  face  grew  white  as  chalk 

At  stories  of  the  wicked  world  and  base  ; 
All  things  "off  shade"  were  by  these  lovers  scouted  ; 
One  would  have  thought  that  wings  on  both  had 
sprouted. 

11. 

But  Maud  and  William,  bless  them,  roamed  at  will 
Where  e'er  they  wished,  and  had  a  happy  time  ; 


88  Course  of  Life. 

And  love's  intoxicating  magic  thrill 

Oft  touched  their  heart  and  gave  them  dreams  sub 
lime, 
They  drank  at  pleasure's  fountain,  had  their  fill, 

Got  married,  wandered  to  a  f  oreign  clime ; 
And  live  to-day  as  happy  as  can  be, 
Blessed  with  a  baby-girl — in  Italy  ! 

12. 

But  Jane  and  George  hud  different  fortune  quite  ; 

She  loaned  her  money  to  him  in  the  fall, 
A  week  before  the  wedding,  and  one  night 

He  vanished,  like  a  dream,  to  Montreal ! 
She  foamed  as  if  from  hydrophobic  bite, 

And  vengeance  from  high  heaven  down  did  call ; 
He  laughed,  and  thought  the  escapade  quite  racy, 
And  drives  out  now  with  Keen  an  and  DeLacey  ! 

13. 
But  I've  not  finished  yet,  my  story  for  you, 

When  Jane  was  o'er  her  paroxysmal  grief  ; 
Some  things  she  did  with  which  I  will  not  bore  you, 

It  may  bring  to  your  patience  some  relief  ? 
For  there  were  things  that  might  with  horror  floor  you. 

And  turn  you  skeptical  with  unbelief  ; 
So  I  will  simply  say  she  wrote  abroad 
And  told  the  story  to  her  sister,  Maud. 


Course  of  Life.  89 

14. 

And  soon  there  came  reply,  a  perfumed  letter, 

Inviting  Jane  to  haste  across  the  sea  ; 
And  also  there  was  in  it,  which  was  better, 

Five  hundred  pounds  for  an  emergency  ; 
And  that  her  troubles  might  not  further  fret  her, 

The  letter  said,  "  When  you're  in  Italy, 
I'll  settle  on  you,  Jane,  ten  thousand  more." 
Now  wasn't  Maud  a  sister  to  adore  ! 

15. 

Jane  happy  grew,  and  made  swift  preparation  ; 

Her  face  was  wreathed  in  smiles  the  day  she  sailed; 
She  had  forgiven  George  and  his  relation  ; 

Religion,  as  she  understood  it,  failed  ! 
She's  happy  now  as  any  in  creation, 

And  none  arc  by  her  prudery  assailed  ; 
She  has  a  little  boy,  and  loves  him  dearly, 
Who  gets  from  Montreal  a  present  yearly  ! 

16. 

I  know  I  shall  be  excommunicated 

By  Mother  Grundy  for  what's  written  here  ; 

Thank  God  !     I'm  not  with  her  and  hers  related, 
'Twere  better  for  their  souls — to  drop  a  tear  ! 

Disown  me,  0  !  ye  hypocrites  sin-mated, 
Still  I  love  Love  and  Charity  sincere  ; 


go  Course  of  Life. 

I'll  take  my  chances  with  you  when  we  meet 
In  that  last  day — before  the  judgment  seat ! 

17. 
My  story's  finished  :  waiter,  haste,  I  say  ! 

Bring  forth  the  Piper  Heidsic,  good  and  cold  ; 
You  goody,  goody  people  kneel  and  pray, 

For  one  who  has  gone  widely  from  the  fold  ; 
I  could  not  if  I  would,  be  aught  but  gay, 

E'en  though  I  have  a  paucity  of  gold  ; 
Gray  sages  say  that  wealth  brings  many  a  curso  ; 
Lay  on  Macduff,  I'll  try  the  plethoric  purse  ! 

18. 
A  health  to  one  I  honor — now  I'll  drink, 

He  is  a  gentleman,  all  will  agree 
Who  know  him,  for  there's  not  a  single  kink 

To  pick  at  in  his  personality  ; 
I  never  saw  him  at  a  lady  wink  ; 

Nor  go  off  on  a  lark  or  jambourie  ; 
Ah  !  see  the  champagne  foam;  bang  goes  the  cork  ; 
Here's  to  Hugh  Grant,  the  Sheriff  of  New  York  ! 

19. 
Do  you  remember,  Grant,  a  year  last  summer, 

You  met  me  with  one  of  your  horses  fleet 
In  Central  Park,  I,  with  my  gelding  hummer, 

Was  very  glad  yourself  and  horse  to  meet ; 


Course  of  Life.  91 

I  asked  you  what  you  drove,  a  skate  or  bummer  ? 

You  said,  I  think,  but  cannot  now  repeat 
The  words  exactly,  but  you  meant  to  guy  me 
And  started  up  at  once  to  travel  by  me  ! 

20. 
"When  Greek  meets  Greek,  then  comes  the  tug  of  war/' 

Our  horses  moved  so  swift  they  fairly  flew  ; 
For  both  were  fast  and  mettle  to  the  core, 

And  Seventh  avenue  was  soon  iu  view  ! 
I  led  you  by  some  fifty  feet  or  more  ; 

'Til  suddenly  a  big  policeman  drew 
His  club  and  swearing  said,  "  He'd  make  it  hot 
For  me  "  but  I  swept  by  him  like  a  shot  I 

21. 
He  quickly  blew  his  whistle,  shrill  and  loud — 

And  as  we  dashed  'round  carriages  amain, 
Out  of  the  Park  wrapt  in  a  dusty  cloud 

Two  mounted  "  Peelers  "  sprang  for  me  again  ; 
"  The  Sheriff  scared  my  horse,"  I  cried  aloud, 

And  whistled  by,  for  you  they'd  not  detain 
I  knew  a  single  minute,  for  you  make  'em, 
And  can  as  easily  at  pleasure  break  'em  ! 

22. 

4 

We  both  reined  in,  the  "  mounts  "  scowled  black  at  me 
To  you  they  smiled,  and  waved   their  hands,   and 
bowed ; 


92  Course  of  Life. 

I  laughed  and  laughed  for  great  security 

Was  mine,  for  well  I  knew  their  souls  were  cowed ; 

They  could  not  take  me  in  and  let  you  be  ! 
And  so  to  travel  on  we  were  allowed  ; 

So  much  for  driving  fast  with  one  in  power; 

I  thank  you,  Sheriff,  to  this  very  hour. 


Coiirse  of  Life.  93 


PART   IV. 

•*  There's  beggary  in  the  love  than  can  be  reckon'd." 

Shakespeare. 

4 

"I  know  a  bank  where  the  wild  thyme  blows, 
Where  oxlips  and  the  nodding  violet  grows." 

Midsummer- Night1  a  Dream. 
"The  roses  of  love  glad  the  garden  of  life." 

Byron. 

1. 

Once  more,  my  wingM  steed,  a  dash  we'll  take 

Unto  a  happy  flowery  ocean  vale  ; 
The  splashing,  diamond-flashing  waters  break 

Against  the  rock-ribbed  coast  with  human  wail ; 
The  birds  from  morn  'til  night,  soft  music  wake, 

And  tune  their  pipes  to  strains  that  never  fail 
To  charm  the  wanderer  who  may  hither  stray, 
To  dream  a  golden  hour  or  two  away  ! 

2. 

Agleam  with  beauty  on  the  rocky  ledges, 

Fair  ocean-flowers  grow  with  chaste  surprise  ; 

The  shepherd's  purse  the  dainty  sea-pink  pledges, 
And  woos  her  with  his  dewy,  dreamy  eyes  ; 

Rich  ferns  and  honeysuckles  'gem  the  hedges, 
And  nodding  foxgloves  from  the  mosses  rise  ; 


94  Course  of  Life. 

And  many  other  flowers — fair  to  see, 
Bedeck  this  vale — with  prodigality. 

3. 

A  gentle  youth  each  golden  afternoon 
Was  wont  to  ramble  to  this  blissful  place 

And  listen  dreamily  to  each  sweet  rune, 

Piped  by  the  happy  birds  with  rhythmic  grace  ; 

Upon  a  bank  of  thyme  near  a  lagoon, 

He'd  talk  with  birds  and  flowers  face  to  face, 

They  loved  him,  and  sweet  stories  he  could  tell 

About  them — for  he  understood  them  well ! 

4. 
He  knew  their  mystic  language — and  each  day 

They  whispered  secrets  to  him  strange  and  new  ; 
And  many  he  invited  there  to  stray, 

But  none  a  single  sentence  could  construe. 
Some  thought  they  something  heard  but  went  away, 

Nor  cared  to  try  again — alas  !  how  few 
Have  souls  attuned  so  finely  that  each  word 
Is  known,  that  falls  from  flower,  stream  or  bird. 

5. 
Ah,  reader,  yours  the  loss  if  you  have  never 

Held    converse  with    the    birds,  and    flowers,  and 

streams  ; 

And  rocks,  and  trees,  and  happy  stars  that  ever 
Link  destinies  beyond  this  land  of  dreams ; 


Course  of  Life.  95 

The  time  will  come  when  you  will  regret  forever 

Tliis  sad  neglecting — for  sweet  nature  teems 
With  healing  words  of  comfort  from  above — 
Writ  by  God's  finger — dipped  in  wells  of  love  ! 

6. 
0  !  go  to  Nature — listen  patiently, 

And  when  your  heart  is  ready  to  receive, 
She  will  reveal  to  you  each  mystery, 

But  you  must  learn  to  wonder  and  believe  ; 
Go  with  a  heart  of  love  and  purity  ; 

She'll  gently  teach  you  when  to  smile  and  grieve  ; 
And  many  wondrous  things,  unknown  before, 
Spelled  everywhere  in  heaven's  mystic  lore  ! 

7. 
One  day  this  youth  besought  a  gentle  maiden 

As  pure  as  sunbeam  on  a  throne  of  prayer  ; 
Or  fairest  moon-kist  lily  bell  of  Aiden, 

A  loving  child  of  Nature — heavenly  fair — 
To  go  with  him  ;  so  hand  in  hand  they  strayM  in 

This  valley  with  its  beauties  rich  and  rare  ; 
And  wandered  to  the  lake — all  silver-breasted — 
And  on  a  bank  of  wild  thyme  gently  rested. 


The  flowers  rarer  seem'd,  the  birds  sang  sweeter, 
The  youth  talked  with  them  both — the  maiden  heard; 


96  Course  of  Life. 

And  discoursed  with  them,  too — in  dulcet  metre, 
And  knew  of  their  sweet  language  every  word  ; 

They  joined  their  hands  and  lips — the  hours  fleeter 
Went  by  on  rosy  wings — and  never  bird 

Sang  lovelier  to  his  mate  than  she  to  him, 

For  she  had  voice  as  pure  as  seraphim. 

9. 

And  thus  they  dallied  thro'  (he  golden  hours ; 

All  Nature  was  to  them  was  an  open  book  ; 
The  birds  and  flowers  were  happier  in  their  bowers, 

The  sun  with  gold  immersed  trees,  lake  and  brook  ; 
The  spray  broke  brightly  on  the  rocks  in  showers, 

The  waves  receding  rife  with  laughter  shook,, 
Love  shot  his  arrows  thro'  the  perfumed  air 
And  life  seein'd  pure  as  white  soul'd  nun  at  prayer. 

10. 

When  love  is  in  the  heart,  then  in  the  e3res 
An  iris  beam  from  heaven  softly  glows  ; 

This  sad  old  earth  seems  robed  in  gorgeous  dyi-s, 
And  blooms  and  blossoms  sweetly  as  the  roso  ; 

Valhalla,  soul  created,  'round  us  lies, 

And  joy  from  many  a  crystal  fountain  flows, 

Adream  with  love,  life  chords  to  perfect  rhyme, 

And  earth  becomes  a  dwelling-place  sublime. 


Course  of  Life.  97 

11. 

And  thus  it  was  with  these  two — pure  of  heart, — 
They  loved  and  roamed  each  afternoon  awhile  ; 

Unto  this  vale — joined  never  more  to  part, — 
And  life  to  them  was  fair  as  angels'  smile  ; 

Their  humble  home  was  near  a  busy  mart, 
Yet  'til  they  died  their  hearts  were  free  from  guile  ; 

Love  led  their  footsteps,  peace  their  pillows  laid, 

And  children,  fair  as  morning,  'round  them  play'd. 

12. 
This  simple  story — dearest  reader,  mine, — 

Is  true,  as  well  as  all  the  others  told  ; 
This  last  one  speaks  of  love  that  is  divine, 

And  dies  not  when  the  grassy  churchyard  mould 
Grows  o'er  its  house  of  clay  ;  for  it  will  shine 

And  blossom  sweeter,  purer,  many-fold, 
When  in  its  pristine  home — beyond  the  spheres, 
Where  sorrows  come  not — or  earth's  bitter  tears. 


98  Kara  Aly. 


KARA  ALY. 


CANTO  I. 

"  I  am  noj)ilot  ;  yet,  wert  thou  as  far 
As  that  vast  shore  wash'd  with  the  farthest  sea, 
I  would  venture  for  such  merchandise." 

Shakespeare. 

1. 

Through  royal  pomp  of  purple  cloud  and  gold, 
The  sun  had  sunk  behind  the  mountains  old 
Of  the  Caucasus — famed  in  years  agone 
For  vasty  caves,  where  lovely  maids  were  borne 
And  booty  of  all  kind  away  was  stored 
By  many  a  robber  chief  and  valiant  horde. 

2. 

The  eve  was  calm,  and  gentle  was  the  breeze; 
The  crescent  moon  climbed  slowly  o'er  the  trees 
And  washed  their  leaves  with  silver,  and  the  stream, 
That  bathed  the  mountain's  feet,  flowed  like  a  dream 
Into  a  lucid  lake,  whose  grassy  bed 
Was  by  its  waters  to  deep  greenness  fed. 


Kara  Aly.  99 

3. 

A  maiden  of  a  neighboring  Arab  band, 
Whose  father  ruled  the  tribe  with  iron  hand, 
Was  wont  each  night,  alone,  thro'  copse  and  br;:ko 
To  roam  down  to  the  margin  of  the  lake. 
An  Emir's  handsome  son  she  here  would  meet, 
And  winged  with  love,  the  little  Arab  feet 
Would  speed  her  swiftly  to  his  waiting  arms ; 
The  haven  of  her  love  and  all  its  charms  ! 


Hark  !  hear  you  not  the  sound  of  hoofs  near  by; 
Brave  Kossa  comes,  the  Emir's  son  is  nigh  ; 
The  green  tents  of  his  tribe  are  left  behind, 
And  on  his  desert  mare,  swift  as  the  wind, 
He  rides,  nor  cares  for  nought  save  she  he  loves, 
His  star  of  stars,  his  gentle  dove  of  doves — 
Nor  swifter  speeds  he  to  the  battle's  shock 
Than  now  to  her.     See  how  from  rock  to  rock 
Bounds  on  his  steed,  until  the  lake  is  gained; 
And  not  'til  then  that  foam -lashed  steed  is  reined. 

5. 

With  easy  grace  he  leaps  upon  the  ground, 
Removes  the  turban  'round  his  temples  wound  ; 


TOO  Kara  Aly. 

Stands,  shades  his  eyes,  examines  every  pass, 
Then  satisfied,  throws  down  upon  the  grass 
His  simitar,  and  waits  impatient  near 
The  trysting  place,  fond  Fazry's  voice  to  hear. 
She  comes,  he  forward  springs  with  amorous  zest 
And  folds  this  desert  rose-bud  to  his  breast. 


6. 


The  willowy  step,  the  laugh,  the  dusky  che'ek, 
The  raven  curl  and  sparkling  eye  bespeak 
A  grace  and  wondrous  beauty;  such  I  ween 
As  rarely  in  this  world  is  ever  seen. 
Great  Allah  must  have  kist  her,  for  the  trace 
Of  mystic  sweetness  glowed  in  limbs  and  face  ! 
Close  to  his  heart,  beneath  the  moon's  pale  beams, 
Lost  in  the  wild  extravagance  of  dreams, 
Their  troth  was  plighted,  and  the  hour  of  bliss 
Was  sealed  with  many  a  warm  and  fervent  kiss. 

7. 

"  My  darling,"  Kossa  said,  with  trace  of  pain, 

"  They  say  that  Kara  Aly's  back  again  !" 

"  What  !  back  so  soou;  I  thought  him  far  away  ?" 

"  And  so  he  was,  but  he  returned  to-day  ; 

Our  tribes  must  join  and  drive  him  from  his  hold 

Within  the  mountains,  for  he's  grown  so  bold 


Kara  Aly.  101 

And  daring,  and  become  so  wide  a  ranger, 
Our  homes  and  flocks  are  in  the  greatest  danger. 
And  Fazry,  0,  my  precious  one,  my  sweet, 
We  must  not  longer  by  this  water  meet, 
For  he  has  spies  who  will  be  larking  'round  ; 
And  if  they  should  report  such  beauty  found 
In  happy  tryst  with  me,  'twould  greatly  please, 
For  we,  you  know,  are  long  sworn  enemies. 
And  he,  some  night  would  from  his  fastness  roam 
And  bear  you  back  a  captive  to  his  home, 
To  lead  a  life,  ah,  darling!  worse  than  death; 
And  I,  of  course,  would  spend  my  latest  breath 
In  your  defense;  but  what  could  one  arm  do 
Against  this  man  and  his  bold  robber  crew  ? 
So  we  must  take  precaution  while  we  may, 
And  trust  to  Allah  for  a  reckoning  day  !" 

8. 

Then  leaning  placed  his  turban  on  his  head,* 
And  raised  his  blade  up  from  its  grassy  bed 
Where  he  had  placed  it,  then  said,  "  0,  my  fate, 
We  must  away  the  hour  is  waxing  late  !" 
Once  more  he  pressed  her  to  his  beating  heart, 
And  showered  her  with  kisses,  loath  to  part. 
A  gentler  dalliance  Allah  ne'er  had  given, 
Their  lives  were  half  on  earth  and  half  in  heaven. 


IO2  Kara  Aly. 

9. 

They  linger  still,  0,  bitter,  bitter  fate  ! 

Why  do  they  tarry  'til  it  is  too  late  ? 

See  from  yon  hill,  an  old  man  trudges  down 

Leaning  upon  a  cane,  a  long  dark  gown 

Falls  from  his  shoulders  to  his  knees  below, 

And  on  his  locks,  as  white  as  mountain  snow, 

A  turban  rests,  and  as  he  draws  more  near 

His  face  grows  darker,  but  his  eye  more  clear. 

On  still  he  comes,  ;md  as  he  closer  draws, 

And  sees  the  youth  and  maid,  he  stops  to  pause, 

As  if  surprised  that  he  should  see  them  there. 

Then  presses  on,  and  when  he  reaches  where 

Brave  Ko.  sa  and  his  Fazry  were,  he  said  : 

"  May  Allah's  blessing  rest  upon  thy  head 

Proud  chief— and  also  on  thy  mate  ! 

Your  pardon  for  my  presence!  I  await, 

Here  by  the  lake,  my  son,  young  Saraband, 

Who  is  a  warrior  in  Ben  Ali's  bund. 

Mayhap  you  know  him,  or  have  heard  his  name  ? 

He  is  a  leader  of  some  little  fame  !" 

10. 

"  I  know  him  not,"  said  Kossa,  "  but  have  heard 
Of  his  exploits,  his  name's  a  rallying  word  ; 


Kara  Aly.  103 

He  is  as  brave  a  chief  as  e'er  did  wage 
A  bloody  war,  and  your  declining  age 
Must  be  most  happy  made  by  such  a  one  ; 
My  heart  is  with  you,  father,  and  your  son  !" 

11. 

"I  thank  you  noble  youth,  you  please  me  well, 
And  if  you  deem  me  not  too  bold,  pray  tell 
Your  name,  for  surely  you  must  be 
A  chief  yourself  of  some  celebrity  ! 
One  who  would  be  the  last  the  field  to  fly; 
I  read  it  in  your  dress,  your  face,  your  eye." 
"  Good  father,  hear,  I  trust  for  honor's  sake, 
If  nothing  more,  I'd  be  the  last  to  break 
The  ranks  and  flee,  to  seek  a  safe  retreat ! 
No,  never,  father — while  this  heart  shall  beat — 
I  am  a  chief,  but  naught  about  my  fame 
Have  I  to  say — and  Kossa  is  my  name." 

12. 

"  What !  daring  Kossa,  th'  proud  Emir's  son  ? 
Thy  fame  is  bright,  and  many  a  field  you've  won 
The  name  of  Kossa's  famous  far  and  near, 
Mine  is  the  honor,  chief,  to  meet  you  here  ! 
But  tell  me,  prithee,  'ere  I  further  go, 
Is  Kara  Aly  back — our  mortal  foe  ? 


IO4  Kara  Aly. 

I  heard  to-night  ho  had  been  seen  again 
With  many  of  his  followers  on  the  plain  !" 

13. 

"Aye,  he  is  back  !  but  brief  his  stay,  I  trust; 

I  hope  'ere  long  to  make  him  bite  the  dust  \" 

"  What !  will  you  give  him  war  ?"  "  Aye,  that  I  will ! 

And  when  I've  done  methinks  he'll  have  his  fill 

Of  war,  and  gladly  sue  for  peace. 

'Tis  time,  high  time,  his  ravages  should  cease." 

14. 

"  And  yet  I'm  told  he  is  not  bad  at  heart, 
And  has  been  known  to  act  the  clever  part 
Full  many  times,  and  only  strikes  at  those 
Whom  he  considers  strong  and  deadly  foes  ; 
He  is  to  some  a  contradiction  sure, 
Subdues  the  arrogant,  protects  the  poor  ; 
A  tiger  fierce  to-day,  to-morrow  mild, 
And  gentle,  so  they  say,  as  little  child  !" 

15. 

"  I  care  not  what  they  say,  my  hate  is  dire  ; 
I  would  to-night  I  saw  his  funeral  pyre 
With  him  upon  it.     I  would  humbly  claim 
The  privilege  to  start  the  lurid  flame. 


Kara  Aly.  105 

T  wish,  alone,  this  renegade  would  grace 
My  pathway,  then  we'd  settle,  face  to  face, 
Our  little  feud  of  over  twelve  months  growth  ; 
Then  one  of  us  might  live,  but  never  both." 

16. 

"  Talk  lower,  chief,  some  spy  may  linger  near, 

And  Kara  Aly,  should  he  ever  hear 

Your  wish  alone  to  meet  him,  would  agree; 

For  he  was  never  known  a  foe  to  flee  \" 

"  I  care  not  who  may  hear,  each  word  is  true; 

I  would  that  he  was  nigh,  to  hear  them,  too  !" 

17. 

' '  Thy  wish  is  granted,  Kossa,  free  from  bands, 
Before  thee  Kara  Aiy  single  stands  !" 
And  quick  as  lightning  from  his  shoulders  threw 
The  long  dark  gown  that  hid  his  form  from  view; 
Then  swiftly  flashed  his  blade,  and  said  with  pride, 
"  Now,  Kossa,  on  thy  guard,  I  will  not  chide 
Thee  for  thy  length  of  tongue;  but  haste,  I  pray, 
And  lead  that  lovely  maid  some  lengths  away." 

18. 

Brave  was  the  Emir's  son — but  such  surprise 
Made  him  most  doubt  the  scene  before  his  eyes. 


io6  Kara  Aly. 

He  backward  sprang  and  upward  flashed  his  blade, 

Then  toward  a  thicket  led  the  fainting  maid, 

Who,  half  revived,  began  to  sob  and  cry, 

"  0  !  Kossa,  from  this  dreaded  chief tian  fly  !" 

No  time  had  he  to  counsel  words  of  cheer, 

But  laid  her  gently  on  the  grassy  mere  ; 

Then  sprang  back  at  his  foe,  who  like  a  rock 

Stood  on  his  guard,  and  ready  for  the  shock  ! 

But  in  his  leap,  ah,  sad  the  fate  to  tell, 

He  slipped  and  lost  his  guard  and  slightly  fell ; 

And  quick  and  fierce  as  tiger  for  the  fray 

The  fiery  mountain  chief  sprang  on  his  prey, 

And  closing,  wounded  deeply  in  the  side 

The  Emir's  son — alas,  the  rent  is  wide, 

And  freely  bleeds, — ah,  Kossa,  fur  too  strong 

Thy  foe  for  thee  alone  to  right  thy  wrong 


19. 


Now  Kara  Aly  swift  advantage  found, 

And  forced  the  struggling  Kossa  to  the  ground  ; 

Then  swift  as  wild-cat,  springing  up,  he  pressed 

His  heavy  foot  upon  the  heaving  breast, 

And  flashing  toward  his  throat  the  bloody  blade, 

Cried,  "  Kossa,  I  have  ne'er  before  delayed 

To  take  a  life,  but  if  you  ask  of  me 

For  mercy,  T  will  freely  give  it  thee; 


Kara  Aly.  107 

Although  I  know,  were  I  now  in  your  place, 
You'd  ne'er  extend  to  me  an  equal  grace  ! 
Now  sue  for  mercy,  or  I  truly  swear 
To  end  your  proud  existence  lying  there  ! " 


20. 


No  answer  came,  too  deep  the  savage  wound; 
The  form  beneath  the  chieftian's  foot  had  swooned. 
But  see,  before  them  both,  in  earnest  prayer, 
Fair  Fazry  weeping  cries:    "  Brave  chieftian  spare, 
0  !  for  my  sake,  I  pray  you,  mercy  give; 
Spare,  spare  him,  Kara  Aly,  let  him  live  !" 
"  And  what  is  he  to  thee,  my  lovely  child  ?" 
And  Fazry  courage  gained  from  words  so  mild. 
"  0,  spare  him,  chief,"  she  said,  mid  sobs  of  grief, 
"  He  is  my  love,  my  life,  0  !  spare  him,  chief  !" 

21. 

"  Your  prayer  alone,  sweet  maid,  his  life  shall  save, 
But  he  must  go  a  prisoner  to  my  cave, 
And  you  shall  come,  that  you  may  also  know 
That  even  robber  chiefs  can  kindness  show  ; 
His  wound  is  deep,  he'll  need  the  best  of  care, 
Weep  not  you  both  shall  of  my  bounty  share  !" 
Then  with  his  mouth,  he  gave  a  signal  shrill, 
And  almost  instantly  adowu  the  hill, 


io8  Kara  Aly. 

Dashed  twenty  horsemen  to  their  chieftain's  side, 

And  one  led  Kara  Aly's  desert  pride, 

His  fiery,  pure  Arabian  battle  steed — 

The  swiftest  to  be  found  on  mount  or  mead. 


22. 


"  Your  orders,  chief,"  said  one.     "  Securely  bind 

That  fellow,  then  as  swiftly  as  the  wind, 

Ride  after  me;  we  to  the  fort  repair." 

Then  vaulting  on  his  steed  with  haughty  air 

Said  to  another,  "Yonder  beauty  see  ? 

Go,  bring  her,  place  her  on  this  horse  with  me  !" 

When  Kara  Aly  spoke  he  was  obeyed  ! 

And  quickly  all  in  readiness  was  made. 

His  foe  was  bound  and  horsed;  but  his  own  arms 

Alone  enveloped  Fazry's  fainting  charms. 

23. 

He  gives  the  word,  then  to  his  charger  plies 
The  steel,  and  with  a  bound  away  he  flies  ! 
The  band  speed  after  like  a  pack  of  hounds, 
And  fainter,  fainter  grow  the  echoing  sounds 
Of  voice  and  hoof,  until  along  the  plain 
A  heavy  hush  of  stillness  broods  again  ! 


Kara  Aly.  109 


CANTO  II. 


"  Did  my  heart  love  till  now  ?  forswear  it,  sight  ! 
For  I  ne'er  saw  true  beauty  till  this  night." 

1. 

'Tis  midnight — echo  unmolested  sleeps  ; 
The  moonlight  down  the  mountain  gorges  creeps  ; 
And  on  the  silvery  stream,  in  beauty  glows, 
That  near  the  robbers  fastness  gently  flows. 

2. 

The  outmost  guards  before  the  cavern  pace, 
And  scan  with  eagle-eye  each  shadowy  place  ; 
While  'round  about  the  entrance  to  the  cave, 
That  seems  as  dark  and  gloomy  as  the  grave, 
A  double  guard  is  set,  and  pacing  slow, 
Like  faithful  bloodhounds  back  and  forward  go. 

3. 

Within  the  fortress  all  are  fast  asleep, 
Save  Kara  Aly;  who,  in  study  deep, 


1 10  Kara  Aly. 

Sits  all  alone,  within  his  spacious  room, 
As  cold  and  sternly  silent  as  the  tomb  ! 
Bright  silver  lamps  hang  from  the  ceiling  low, 
And  o'er  the  robber  chieftain  weirdly  throw 
A  mellow  light,  revealing  trophies  rare 
Adorning  the  apartment,  everywhere. 
Kich  leopard  skins  lay  thickly  all  around, 
And  cover  every  space  of  stony  ground  ; 
While  costly  silks  hang  from  the  rocky  walls, 
And  cloths,  gold-hangings,  fans  and  costly  shawls, 
Are  strewn  around  with  taste  at  either  hand, 
By  this  proud,  handsome  chief  of  robber  baud. 

4. 

His  couch  of  silk  and  leopard  skins  was  made, 
And  on  it,  like  a  rose-bud,  Fazry  laid. 
Sweet  sleep  had  poured  his  poppies  'round  the  bed, 
And  o'er  her  tear-wet  eyes  his  dews  had  spread. 
She,  all  forgetful,  there  a  captive  lay. 
Her  soul  adream,  was  wandering  far  away 
In  happy  tryst,  clasped  in  her  lover's  arms, 
Safe  from  all  sorrow  and  the  world's  alarms  ; 
And  felt  in  dreams  his  soft  and  tender  kiss, 
And  garlands  plucked  of  visionary  bliss. 

5. 

Long  sat  the  chief  and  watched  her  silently. 
Then  rose,  walked  to  the  couch  to  better  see 


Kara  Aly.  in 

His  precious  prize  ;  then  drew  the  skins  apace, 
That  he  might  see  her  marvelous  wealth  of  grace. 
Entranced  he  stood — in  innocence  she  lay, 
The  fairest,  finest  dream  of  moulded  clay 
His  eyes  had  ever  rested  on  before  ; 
Sho  seemed  an  angel  from  the  heavenly  shore ; 
A  fiiir  creation  ;  born  of  grace  and  love  ; 
A  rose  dropped  from  elysian  fields  above. 


6. 


He  stood  enamored  ;  pure  as  morning  she 
Lay  in  her  sweetness,  all  unconsciously, 
And  slept  as  peacefully  as  angel  guest, 
Or  little  babe  rocked  on  its  mother's  breast ; 
She  slumbered,  knit  in  dreams  of  perfect  bliss, 
Nor  waked  at  Kara  Aly's  fervent  kiss  ! 
He  gently  drew  the  coverings  o'er  the  child, 
Nor  laid  rude  hands  on  one  so  pure  and  mild  ; 
Returned  to  a  divan  in  reverie  deep, 
And  pondering  long,  at  last,  feel  fast  asleep  ; 
Nor  waked  until  the  sun,  with  floods  of  gold, 
Fell  lavishly  on  mountain,  plain  and  wold. 
And  when  he  did,  it  was  from  troubled  dream  ; 
Up  springing  to  his  feet,  with  eyes  agleam, 
He  wildly  stared  as  if  some  foe  were  near 
To  rob  him  of  the  prize  he  held  so  dear. 


1 12  Kara  Aly. 

7. 

The  noise  from  Fazry's  eyes  brushed  sleep  away, 
And  pale  and  trembling,  like  a  frightened  fay, 
She  held  both  hands  as  if  in  prayer  for  aid  ; 
But  Kara  Aly  said  :  "  Be  not  afraid, 
My  lovely  child,  no  harm  shall  come  to  you  ; 
The  chief  has  said  it,  you  can  count  it  true." 

8. 

"  Then  why,  0  chief,  am  I  a  captive  here  ? 

And  where  is  Kossa  ?    If  as  you  appear 

So  kind  and  gentle  let  us  haste  away, 

And  for  your  soul  each  morn  a  prayer  I'll  say." 


0. 


"  Pale  Moon  you  are  no  captive — your  sweet  will, 

Is  my  command  ;  you  'bide  a  guest,  until 

You  shall  depart  to  leave  me  here  alone 

(Ah,  mind  me  not,  bright  dreams  before  have  flown). 

Speak  out  thy  heart,  my  child,  be  not  afraid  ; 

No  wish  of  yours  shall  here  be  disobe3red." 

10. 

"Kind  chief,  I  thank  you,  and  your  words  so  thrill 
And  my  poor  heart  to  overflowing  fill 


Kara  Aly.  1 13 

With  gratitude  so  deep  I  cannot  find 
Words  fit  to  thank  you  in  my  troubled  mind. 
But,  prithee,  leave  me  for  a  little  while, 
And  if  you  would  find  favor  in  my  smile, 
Return  yourself,  have  Kossa  brought  here  too  ; 
There  maybe  something  for  him  I  can  do." 


11. 


The  chieftain  sighed  :  "  Ah,  maiden,  love  like  thine 
Were  worth  a  kingdom  could  I  call  it  mine  ! 
Your  wish  is  granted  ;  have  no  troubled  thought, 
Thy  lover,  Kossa,  shall  be  hither  brought." 
So  saying,  quickly  passed  out  from  the  room, 
And  left  her  all  alone — with  heart  of  gloom. 


Then  Fazry  from  the  downy  couch  arose, 

And  all  excitement  donned,  with  haste,  her  clothes  ; 

Then  sat  down  dreamily,  with  anxious  fear, 

Her  lover's  face  to  see,  his  voice  to  hear. 

Nor  had  she  long  to  wait  !  the  hangings  wide 

Soon  by  two  girls  were  quickly  drawn  aside, 

And  Kara  Aly  entered,  bowing  low 

To  Fazry,  with  a  brow  presaging  woe  ! 


ii4  Kara  Aly. 

Two  men  bore  Kossa  on  a  couch,  and  laid 
Him  gently  down  beside  the  waiting  maid  ; 
Then  one  swift  look  upon  their  chief  they  cast, 
And  left — the  curtains  closing  as  they  pass'd. 

13. 

Pale  Fazry  sprang  beside  her  lover  true  ; 

Then  gave  one  piercing  shriek,  and  backward  drew 

In  horror  ;  for  upon  the  soft  fur  bed 

The  Emirs'  only  son  lay  cold  and  dead  ! 

14. 

The  robber  chief  sprang  close  to  Fazry 's  side, 
And  gently  said  :  "  Forgive  !     0  deserts'  pride  ; 
I  knew  not  of  his  death — for  I  would  fain 
Have  brought  him  living  to  your  side  again. 
The  best  of  care  he  had,  that  he  might  live  ; 
For  I  intended  freely  to  forgive 
The  bitter  hatred  that  he  bore  to  me.     .. 
And  glad  was  I,  my  child,  that  liberty 
Was  in  my  power  to  proffer  ;  but  you  see 
Great  Allah  wills  it  otherwise  to  be  ! 
Believe  me,  Fazry,  if  I  could  awake 
That  noble  soul  to  life,  his  place  Fd  take, 
And  gladly  do  it,  for  your  precious  sake  ; 
For  life  has  not  been  strewn  with  roses,  sweet, 
And  often  on  the  battle  field  I  greet 


Kara  Aly.  1 15 

Death  with  a  cheerful  smile  in  thickest  fight. 
I  would  be  glad  if  I  were  dead  to-night  !" 

15. 

The  stricken  maid  gazed  at  him  mournfully, 
And  s:iid,  with  eyes  a  wet,  "0  let  me  be 
Alone  awh ilu  with  my  dead  love  I  pray. 
The  chieftain  bowed  and  sadly  walked  away  ; 
Nor  trespassed  further  on  her  poignant  grief 
'Til  after  her  pent  heart  had  found  relief 

In  bitter  tears,  and  calm  her  mind  had  grown. 

• 

Then  with  a  heart  of  love  and  faltering  tone 
Went  to  her ;  said,  "  forgive  me,  if  you  can  ! 
Our  fight,  swoet  maid,  was  equal — man  to  man, 
Advantageless  I  stood — he  was  my  foe  ; 
And  yet  Fm  sorry  that  I  dealt  the  blow  !" 


16. 


"  He  was  impetuous  chief  ;  nor  do  I  blame  ! 

Xo  fairness,  unextended,  could  he  claim. 

I  know  he  would  have  killed  you  if  he  could  ; 

His  hatred  well  I  knew  you  understood  ; 

And  much  Fve  marveled  that  you  could  be  good. 

They  taught  me  you  were  savage,  heartless,  cold, 

A  fierce,  blood-thirsty,  daring  robber  bold. 


n6  Kara  Aly. 

Though  Kossa's  dead,  and  my  lone  heart  has  grieved, 

Believe  me,  chief,  I'm  glad  to  be  deceived. 

You  are  not  fierce  and  bold  ;  but  like  my  love, 

As  brave  as  lion,  gcnile  us  the  dove  ! 

My  soul  seems  sadly  light,  my  eye  is  clear, 

I  hate  you  not,  0  chief  !  but  much  revere. 

But  why  waste  all  your  years  'mid  scenes  of  strife  ? 

I  would  that  prayer  of  mine  could  change  your  life  !" 


17. 


"0  moon  of  moons  !  could  seraph  intercede 
In  my  behalf  with  you,  this  life  I  lead 
I'd  fling  aside  to-morrow,  and  would  sail 
Across  the  seas,  where  summers  never  fail, 
And  build  a  home  in  some  Ilesperian  vale  ; 
Where,  heart  to  heart  united,  we  could  dwell 
In  dreams  too  tender,  love,  for  tongue  to  tell. 
And  when  the  love-wing'd  years  had  rolled  away 
And  we,  together,  darling,  should  grow  gray, 
And  Azrael — that  messenger  of  death, 
Should  bring  to  us  at  last  immortal  breath, 
Together  still  we'd  roam  'neath  happier  skies 
That  hover  like  soft  dreams  o'er  Paradise. 
0,  my  sleek  antelope  !  my  sweet  gazelle  ! 
1  love  you  more  than  earthly  tongue  can  tell. 


Kara  Aly.  1 17 

Lovo  mo  a  little,  dearest,  and  I  swear 
By  sun,  and  moon  and  stars,  that  you  shall  share 
With  me,  a  life  from  pain  and  sorrow  free  ; 
A  life,  my  heart,  of  pure  felicity  ! 
But  Fazry,  should  it  be  my  bitter  fate, 
That  I  must  only  share  your  kindly  hate, 
And  you  at  once  would  to  your  tents  away  ; 
Speak  love !  I  am  resigned  and  will  obey  \" 

18. 

Each  word  fell  deeply  in  the  maiden's  heart, 
And  sad,  mysterious  tears,  began  to  start 
From  her  fair  eyes,  and  course  aclown  each  cheek, 
Before  the  chief's  warm  heart  bad  ceased  to  speak. 
She  ne'er  before  had  heard  such  words  addressed 
To  her.     Not  e'en  from  Kossa  fiery  breast ; 
Although  his  love  was  tender,  warm  and  true, 
Yet  Kara  Aly's  love  seemed  strangely  new. 
It  was  so  warm  and  wild,  del  irons,  sweet  ! 
What  could  she  do,  but  raise  her  lips  to  meet 
The  fiery  pressure  of  the  chieftain's  kiss, 
And  Allah  joined  their  hearts,  and  gave  them  bliss. 

19. 

Dear  reader,  little  more  is  there  to  say  : 

i 

With  untold  wealth  this  mount-iin  chief  one  day 


n8  Kara  Aly. 

Sailed  with  sweet  Fazry  to  a  country  f;iir, 
And  buildcd  her  a  home  beyond  compare  ; 
Close  by  a  river,  in  a  sylvan  dell, 
Where  they  in  peace  and  happiness  did  dwell. 

20. 

Nor  had  she  ever  cause  her  step  to  rue, 
He  proved  to  her  a  husband  tender,  true, 
And  faithful,  loving,  to  the  very  last  ! 
And  when  to  happier  clime  his  soul  had  past, 
She  wept  as  if  her  heart  in  twain  would  break. 
'Til  one  night,  as  she  lay  in  tears,  awake, 
An  angel  came,  and  said  :  "  Allay  thy  fears ; 
Thy  love  is  happy,  far  beyond  the  spheres  ! 
(The  living  weep,  the  dead  are  free  from  tears) : 
The  angel  healed  her  heart  and  wiped  her  eyes, 
And  led  her  to  the  fields  of  Paradise. 


THE   END. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Form  L9-100m-9,'52(A3105)444 


Smith    - 


2859       Lava  fires. 


PS 

2859 
S6iiO 


001  218  120    2 


UCLA-Young  Research  Library 

PS2859   .S640I 

y 


II    I    I    ••      ••   •  •   • 

L  009  600  316  5 


